Jumbo and Others.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 77, 22 November 1884, Page 5

Jumbo and Others.

"He knows nothing besides eating 700 pounds of hay, 2£ bushels of oats, 70 pounds of Graham bread, a bushel of carrots or turnips, and drinking three barrels of water each day," said the trainer. •'He does that as regular as clockwork, in two instalments, and begs the rest of the time from every one who comes near him. He never goes off his feet, not even when he sleeps, and ho never lost his temper while we had him, except once, when something had angered him. That was in winter quarters at Bridgeport, but I soon got him quiet by putting an additional iron clasp on his tusks." ••But how can you handle such a colossus ?" aiked the reporter, glancing up at the 14 feet in height which represented the 24,000 pounds of elephantine matter. "We drive four stakes in a square, and fasten ropes with pulleys to each leg. Then we pull the legs apart until his Majesty's belly touches the ground. In that position wo throw him, and leave him fastened down until he begins to beg off. After that he is treated with kindness until another dose cf pulley becomes necessary. But, as I say, Jumbo is a very pleasant fellow, and well behaved." '•.I presume the elephants soon learn to know their keepers," suggested the reporter. '• That they do, but not every elephant is kind. They grow wicked as they grow old, especially the bulls. We are more or less in danger all the time, but we bocome attached to them, as a man will to a horse. They all have a special hobby or liking. For instance, Hebe, one of the members of the herd, some years ago developed a great liking for a camel. Whenever the latter lay down Hebe would stand over him, put her trunk around his neck, blow on him, and express her love in shrill trumpetings of delight. "Gypsy, another of the herd, took to the children, and when Frank Melville, the bare-back rider, travelled with us, Gypsy showed a remarkable fondness for his little son. The animal recognised the child every time it came into the tent, and was almost frantic if the boy didn't come up and fondle his trunk."— From the "Chicago Herald.'