Lives of the Lindsays, or, A memoir of the House of Crawford and Balcarres > Volume 4

AN INDIAN LIFE. 69
He is particularly useful in shooting, as you may tra-
verse a forest abounding with fierce animals with impu-
nity, bringing down a tiger or buffalo in your walk with-
out danger. In the sports of the field I am surprised
he is so little used ; this is likely owing to the expense
attending it, for a male elephant must in general be at-
tended by a female, to manage him when refractory.
Had Providence, in bestowing upon these animals
such strength and sagacity, far beyond other quadru-
peds, given them courage in the same proportion, the
power of man would hardly control them ; fortunately
they are the most timid animals in the world, — when
found in a herd, they confine themselves to the desert
and avoid the haunts of man ; the barking of a spaniel
would drive them into their retreat, were they a hun-
dred in number. After they are rendered domestic they
acquire confidence in their driver and are gradually
brought to face their enemy, but it requires length of
time before they will oppose either tiger, buffalo, or
rhinoceros in the open field. Upon no occasion do they
use their proboscis as an offensive or defensive weapon ;
it is only used to convey their food to the mouth, and in
the moment of danger they throw it over their head, or
put it to either side, as best calculated to screen it from
danger.
In the keddah I have described, I saw a female with
her proboscis nearly cut through, the pipe which conveys
water to the mouth completely destroyed. I was curious
to know what device she would fall upon to supply this
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