Conciliatory Camel

Useless to try to catch a bird by putting salt on its tail. But millions of Indians believe that the way to pacify a mad elephant is to have a camel bite it in the ear.

In Allahabad last week thousands of pilgrims had assembled to watch the great procession of the feasts of Kumbh Mela. To the shrill squealing of oboes, the thumping of drums, gaily bedizened camels, horses and elephants swayed solemnly down the streets. In the midst of the procession a nervous, rat-eyed elephant suddenly ran amok, sought to bury its stumpy, gold banded tusks in the rear of the elephant ahead.

Pilgrims fled in terror, many fell, panic threatened. "The camel! The camel!" screamed some of the quick-witted. From the rear of the procession a brave cameleer spurred his loose-lipped beast forward to give the conciliatory bite. Fearful of its ears, the mad elephant fled trumpeting to the river, was eventually rounded up by two workmanlike tame elephants.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.