[A curious instance of misapprehension is the use of the term 'Chain elephants.' This is a misunderstanding of the ordinary locution zanjīr-i-fīl when speaking of elephants. Zanjīr is literally a 'chain,' but is here akin to our expressions, a 'pair,' 'couple,' 'brace' of anything. It was used, no doubt, with reference to the iron chain by which an elephant is hobbled. In an account 100 elephants would be entered thus: Fīl, Zanjīr, 100. (See [NUMERICAL AFFIXES].)]
[1826.—"Very frequent mention is made in Asiatic histories of chain-elephants; which always mean elephants trained for war; but it is not very clear why they are so denominated."—Ranking, Hist. Res. on the Wars and Sports of the Mongols and Romans, 1826, Intro. p. 12.]
a. n.p. An island in Bombay Harbour, the native name of which is Ghārāpurī (or sometimes, it would seem, shortly, Purī), famous for its magnificent excavated temple, considered by Burgess to date after the middle of the 8th cent. The name was given by the Portuguese from the life-size figure of an elephant, hewn from an isolated mass of trap-rock, which formerly stood in the lower part of the island, not far from the usual landing-place. This figure fell down many years ago, and was often said to have disappeared. But it actually lay in situ till 1864-5, when (on the suggestion of the late Mr. W. E. Frere) it was removed by Dr. (now Sir) George Birdwood to the Victoria Gardens at Bombay, in order to save the relic from destruction. The elephant had originally a smaller figure on its back, which several of the earlier authorities speak of as a young elephant, but which Mr. Erskine and Capt. Basil Hall regarded as a tiger. The horse mentioned by Fryer remained in 1712; it had disappeared apparently before Niebuhr's visit in 1764. [Compare the recovery of a similar pair of elephant figures at Delhi, Cunningham, Archaeol. Rep. i. 225 seqq.]
c. 1321.—"In quod dum sic ascendissem, in xxviii. dietis me transtuli usque ad Tanam ... haec terra multum bene est situata.... Haec terra antiquitus fuit valde magna. Nam ipsa fuit terra regis Pori, qui cum rege Alexandro praelium maximum commisit."—Friar Odoric, in Cathay, &c., App. p. v.
We quote this because of its relation to the passages following. It seems probable that the alleged connection with Porus and Alexander may have grown out of the name Puri or Pori.
[1539.—Mr. Whiteway notes that in João de Crastro's Log of his voyage to Diu will be found a very interesting account with measurements of the Elephanta Caves.]
1548.—"And the Isle of Pory, which is that of the Elephant (do Alyfante), is leased to João Pirez by arrangements of the said Governor (dom João de Crastro) for 150 pardaos."—S. Botelho, Tombo, 158.
1580.—"At 3 hours of the day we found ourselves abreast of a cape called Bombain, where is to be seen an ancient Roman temple, hollowed in the living rock. And above the said temple are many tamarind-trees, and below it a living spring, in which they have never been able to find bottom. The said temple is called Alefante, and is adorned with many figures, and inhabited by a great multitude of bats; and here they say that Alexander Magnus arrived, and for memorial thereof caused this temple to be made, and further than this he advanced not."—Gasparo Balbi, f. 62v.-63.
1598.—"There is yet an other Pagode, which they hold and esteem for the highest and chiefest Pagode of all the rest, which standeth in a little Iland called Pory; this Pagode by the Portingalls is called the Pagode of the Elephant. In that Iland standeth an high hill, and on the top thereof there is a hole, that goeth down into the hill, digged and carved out of the hard rock or stones as big as a great cloyster ... round about the wals are cut and formed, the shapes of Elephants, Lions, tigers, & a thousand such like wilde and cruel beasts...."—Linschoten, ch. xliv.; [Hak. Soc. i. 291].