THE DISEASES OF ELEPHANTS. 
179 
stance of smaller twigs alone are eaten. It is astonishing to 
observe the adroitness with which the elephant peels off the 
delicate inner bark in long strips, and rejects all the rest. 
This fastidiousness necessitates an immense supply of 
branches every day, and the elephant always goes out with 
his keeper to bring in as much as he can carry at a time. 
The bamboo is also eaten, but will not be accepted very long 
at a time. Other trees are also eaten in the jungle, but as 
they are seldom accessible to tame elephants, they need not 
be referred to. A long species of grass (Typha elephantina) 
which grows in many tanks and rivers during the rainy 
season, forms excellent fodder for elephants, who are very 
fond of it; and when they have been much pulled down by 
a season’s hard work they should, if possible, be sent to pick 
up again where this fodder is plentiful. In the absence of 
the above descriptions of fodder, the stalks of millet, called 
c Kurbee,’ or even dry grass, may be given, but it will not 
satisfy them long without a mixture of green food. Sugar¬ 
cane is a great treat, and in moderate quantities is very good 
for them, particularly if in poor condition. 
“ Elephants should be picketed on dry ground, standing 
in damp being a great cause of diseased feet. They do 
not require any protection from the weather but the shade of 
a tree, and a Jhool or Numda (cloth of string or felt) thrown 
over them in cold nights. They should be bathed as often 
as possible in tanks and rivers ; and a small quantity of clari¬ 
fied butter should afterwards be rubbed over their foreheads, 
ears, chests, and such parts as are liable to crack, or suffer 
from the rubbing of the accoutrements or from the sun. They 
should be allowed to drink as much water as they like. They 
are often very nice about it, and reject it when muddy or 
stagnant. The pad should be of full size and well stuffed 
with grass. The felt cloth that goes under the pad (Gadela), 
should always be in proper repair, or a sore back is the cer¬ 
tain consequence. Both these articles require to be renewed 
about once a year, if a whole season’s work has been done. 
The smaller felted cloth on which the driver sits should be 
made large enough to project a little in front of the elephant’s 
forehead, and protect him from a vertical sun. It is not the 
nature of the animal to remain out in the open in the heat of 
the day; and I am sure that he suffers from it if made to do 
so unprotected. If not allowed a tree to stand under in the 
heat of the day, an elephant always heaps all the leafy 
branches he can get on his head and back. 
“ After much marching on stony ground, the feet are apt 
to get tender from undue wearing away of the horny soles. 
XLVI. 13 
