The Institutes of Akbar 91.2

91.2

7. The Charkhi is a piece of hollowed bamboo, half a yard and two tassujes long, and has a hole in the middle. It is covered with sinews and filled with gunpowder, an earthen partition dividing the powder into two halves. A fuzee wrapt in paper, is put into each end. Fixed into the hole of the bamboo at right angles is a stick, which serves as a handle. Upon fire being put to both ends, it turns round, and makes a frightful noise. When elephants fight with each other, or are otherwise unruly, a bold man on foot takes the burning bamboo into his hand, and holds it before the animals, when they will get quiet. Formerly, in order to separate two elephants that were fighting, they used to light a fire; but people had much trouble, as it seldom had the desired effect. His Majesty invented the present method, which was hailed by all. 8. Andhiyari, i. e., darkness, a name which His Majesty changed into Ujyali, i. e., light, is a piece of canvass above one and a half yards square. It is made of brocade, velvet, &c., and tied with two ends to the Kilaweh (vide next). When the elephant is unruly, it is let fall, so that he cannot see. This has been the saving of many. As it often gives way, especially when the elephant is very wild, His Majesty had three heavy bells attached to the ends of the canvass, to keep it better down. This completed the arrangement.