The account goes on :-
" One Monday morning he was taken to the Elephant House, and at once entered the enclosure, and formally saluted the animal, standing first at her head, and then at her tail. Next he took off his shoes, knotted a rope loosely round the elephant's neck, which he afterwards used as a kind of stirrup. With little difficulty he persuaded her to kneel and mounted her neck. In less than two minutes, soothing, patting, and talking volubly to her in Hindustani, he had got on good terms, took her round to the elephant ride, and apparently had her almost in complete control. Phrases of his admonitions, freely translated, were as follows :--` I am told that you eat your food, and will not work ; it is wrong. ; Allah enjoins on us all that we must work if we
i would eat." You are cheating your masters, and it is unworthy of you.' I am only a black man, and you must not mind me.' ' Put fear out of your mind ; take it up from your heart, and throw it out.' The elephant certainly seemed to understand, and now obeys every order. The mahout was given quarters in another part of the Gardens, but has obtained leave to sleep in the Elephant House, as he says that he wishes to talk to the elephant during the night. He has not yet tried to saddle her, as he wishes to take things slowly, but is confident that he will conquer all her fears and make her permanently obedient."
The effect of talking to animals is a most interesting subject. All good horse-masters will tell you to talk to your horse, and Remy, the great trainer of Victorian days, always " whispered" to vicious horses before he backed them. Has " Telling the Bees," we wonder, any connexion with these strange facts
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