Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s3.t1.19

c7.s3.t1.19

The elephants of the royal stables used to be trained in paying homage to the monarch with ceremony. At a given signal from their keeper, the animals used to put their foreheads on the ground and then raise their trunks and trumpet. They were also trained to pick up an article from the ground, keeping it in their mouths or handing it over to the keeper as they were directed. There could hardly be any other use of these costly military accessories during the time of peace. At times, they were also taken out for riding or for conveying heavy loads.⁴