Storia do Mogor 206.3

206.3

Usually the king has one hundred very tall elephants which he uses himself, and there are also female elephants, on whom he does not disdain to ride. All the elephants he rides are trained to stand fire of both artillery and musketry, of rockets, and other fireworks. This is done so that when they come across such things they may not be afraid. Others are taught not to be frightened of tigers or of lions, so that they may be used in hunting. To teach them, they take a tiger-skin or lion-skin, and stuff it with straw. Then, just as if it were alive, they move it here and there by a rope. The driver encourages the elephant, and urges him towards the dummy, which with feet and trunk he tears to pieces. The elephants are well looked after ; they are given spirits to drink to increase their courage in a fight. It is the rule that there shall always be one elephant on sentry duty day and night on the river bank, stationed within a little gateway just underneath the royal seat.