2-982-167 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Crossing a River in the Terai, 1876. The future King Edward VII hunting tigers in India. '...the elephant is very careful, feeling the ground with his trunk for the edge of the nullah, as in most cases it cannot be seen from the long grass. When the margin is reached he places both feet together, and they partly go down through the earth, which lets them down easily. The hind legs are bent to the ground in the attitude of a man on his knees. The trunk is then used to feel the bottom of the nullah to know if it is firm enough...the animal then steps cautiously across and begins the ascent on the other side. This it does slowly but surely, going down on its knees upon the earth above, and heaving its vast weight up by degrees, till it gains the level ground again. The howdah is often at an angle of 45 degrees, and the sportsman has to hold on by the sides..'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.