232 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP, 
The only really dependable elephant that I have 
ever ridden was a tusker belonging to the Commis¬ 
sariat at Jubbulpur in 1880; this fine male was 
named Moolah Bux, He was rather savage, but 
he became my great friend through the intervention 
of sugar-canes and the sweet medium of jaggery 
(native sugar) and chupatties, with which I fed him 
personally whenever he was brought before me for 
the day s work; I also gave him some bonne-bouche 
upon dismounting at the return to camp. 
Although Moolah Bux was the best elephant I 
have myself experienced, he was not absolutely 
perfect, as he would not remain without any move¬ 
ment when a tiger charged directly face to face ; 
upon such occasions he would stand manfully to 
meet the enemy, but he would swing his huge head 
in a pugnacious spirit preparatory to receiving the 
tiger upon his tusks. 
The first time that I witnessed the high character 
of this elephant was connected with a regrettable 
incident which caused the death of one man and the 
mutilation of two others, who would probably have 
been killed had not Moolah Bux been present. The 
description of this day s experience will explain the 
necessity of a staunch shikar elephant when tiger¬ 
shooting, as the position may be one that would 
render it impossible to approach on foot when a 
wounded and furious tiger is in dense jungle, 
perhaps with some unfortunate beater in its clutches. 
I was shooting in the Central Provinces, accom¬ 
panied by my lamented friend the late Mr. Berry, 
