Memories of India: Elephants

THE GENIUS OF THE ELEPHANT IN OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES
Watercolor paintings by Baden-Powell
From: Baden-Powell, Memories of India, Chapter XIV, The Elephant as Gentleman

".... When they come to a deep nullah they gently slide down into it with their forelegs, kneeling with their hind legs until sure of their balance. In climbing out they reverse the process, kneeling with their forelegs and helping themselves with their trunk, and it often feels to the man in the howdah that the whole show is going over backwards. They use their trunk as a fifth leg, especially in boggy ground. When an elephant gets bogged, a pole is thrown down before him and he walks out on it as if on a tight-rope."

		Baden-Powell, Memories of India, 1915. Chapter XIV. The Elephant as Gentleman. Sentiment About the Elephant—His Mathematical Mind—"Dandelion's" Idiosyncrasies—Her Courage in the Face of an Enemy—The Elephant Who Died—A Problem in Sanitation—The Jungle Ship—Sea Legs— The Genius of the Elephant—His Timidity—Jock's Victory—The Duchess of Connaught's Adventure— The Elephant's Caution—He Utilises Human Material— A Malefactor Flogged by Elephants—The Elephant in War—An Elephant Fight
		Baden-Powell, Memories of India, 1915. Forward by Sir Robert Baden-Powell

		The Baden-Powell Library A Selection of excerpts from the works of Sir Robert Baden-Powell and works relating to his life and career.
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