AN ELEPHANT FIGHT.
{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}



The following description OF an elephant
fight is extracted from "A Picturesque
View along the Ganges, by Lieut.. Col. de
Forest. 'An excellent breakfast (says Col.
Fly awaited our arrival; after which we
passed on to spacious verandah on the
cast side of the palace, which looked down
into the area prepared for the combat; the
latter was nearly surrounded by paling or
bamboo, eighteen or twenty feet high.
Soon after we were seated the crowd were
admitted, and presently filled the circum-
ference of the Theatre below US. Two very
large war elephants were brought forw trd
from opposite sides, each proceeded by its
favorite female, whose presence, it appears,
is necessary to arouse the anger OF these
noble animals. The conflict of this part,
however, gave little sport, one OF them ap-
pearlng very shy, and inferior to his oppo'
nent in strength; they were therefore yitn-
drawn. Another pair now advanced, led
as the first. These approached with SOW
and majestic step,' until they caught
glimpse of each other; both OF them raising
their trunks, and utterng shrill cry, rush.
ed with the most tremendous impetuosity
together, presenting their heads to receive
the first shock. 1t was awfully grand. The
animals, thus stopped in the first careef,
still continued to Strive by every possible.
exertion of strength and art to force their
adversary back, or to attack him in the flank.
Their heads, however, still were firmly
pressed together, and they alternately ralli-
ed. One was of ratEer smaller size. than his
antagonist, but he appeared TO make up for
this deficiency by his greater spirit. He
retreated little for the moment, but 1t was
only to renew the charge with increased
rage: again they met, the same tremendous
conclusion took place, and these attacks
were several times repeated, until IN last
and most desperate one, tooth OF the
smallest elephant was broken IN two with
lond crash. Still he was not desplrited; and
would have persevered longer in the contest;
but beinp now so decidedly infcxior to his
adversary. the fire works were thrown be-
tween them which terminated the combat.
| 'rhc noble animals Kept for this sport are
unfit for any other purpose, and are almost
unpoyernable to the mahauts. They are
fed, to bring them to this furious state, on
| high sea soned food and spices, which in
manner intoxicates them, and renders them
furieus beyond description. The mahauts,
or conductors, sit upon the elephants backs
during the contest, and too often fall vic-
tins to the mad rage of their own animal or
the opposite foe. There is large pal
mattrass strongly fxesl on the back, and
covered over with coarse netting OF thick
white cettm rope; to this the mahaut clinss,