THE ELEPHANT ESTABLISHMENT.
Not far distant from Plassey is the Company’s Fīl-khana, or Elephant establishment, whence the animals are coming down to the side of the river. One of the elephants in the distance is raising his mahout, or driver, with his trunk, to enable him to gain his seat on his neck: another is drinking, taking up the water with his proboscis and pouring it into his own mouth; a third is lying in the river enjoying the coolness, whilst his attendants are scrubbing and cleaning him.
A group of natives, attendants on the elephants, are sitting round a fire, baking the large cakes that form the repast of these animals, added to a small dinner of half a pīpul-tree, or a hundred-weight of grass! A mahout, or driver, is very fond of whispering to his elephant some superstitious tale; which, if the animal does not understand, it is amongst the few things this most wonderful of God’s creatures does not comprehend.