Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

A writer from India tells the following: One day two ladies were watching some elephants being fed near their camp in the jungles of the Central Provinces, when the two unfortunately took it into her head to offer one of the elephants a very hot chapatti, which is a cake made of flour and baked on the fire over a thin plate, and consequently, when fresh made, is burning hot. Elephants are usually fed with these twice a day, but they are always allowed to cool before being given. This one was still so hot that it hurt the beast’s trunk, for he dropped it with the quickness of lightning and with a shout, at the same time striking a blow on the hand of the lady, who he of course considered had meant to hurt him intentionally. Had she been but a little nearer, and the beast not at the full length of his chain, the same blow on the head would certainly have killed her on the spot. As it was, her hand was in a most painful state for weeks afterward. Next morning, when it was time to start for the next encampment, this same lady, who usually got up the ladder first and sat nearest to the elephant’s head, proceeded to do so as usual, but as soon as she approached the elephant he began to trumpet and throw water over her. This he did several times, till at last she had to give up trying to ascend, and another lady took her place. The elephant, however, permitted her to sit near his tail, but he remained cross all day.