Toomai of the Elephants

           IwillrememberwhatIwas,Iamsickofropeandchain

           Iwillremembermyoldstrengthandallmyforestaffairs.

           Iwillnotsellmybacktomanforabundleofsugar-cane:

           Iwillgoouttomyownkind,andthewood-folkintheirlairs.

           

           Iwillgooutuntiltheday,untilthemorningbreak

           Outtothewind’suntaintedkiss,thewater’scleancaress;

           Iwillforgetmyankle-ringandsnapmypicketstake.

           Iwillrevisitmylostloves,andplaymatesmasterless!

           

           KalaNag,whichmeansBlackSnake,hadservedtheIndianGovernmentineverywaythatanelephantcouldserveitforforty-sevenyears,andashewasfullytwentyyearsoldwhenhewascaught,thatmakeshimnearlyseventyaripeageforanelephant.Herememberedpushing,withabigleatherpadonhisforehead,atagunstuckindeepmud,andthatwasbeforetheAfghanWarof1842,andhehadnotthencometohisfullstrength.

           HismotherRadhaPyariRadhathedarlingwhohadbeencaughtinthesamedrivewithKalaNag,toldhim,beforehislittlemilktuskshaddroppedout,thatelephantswhowereafraidalwaysgothurt.KalaNagknewthatthatadvicewasgood,forthefirsttimethathesawashellbursthebacked,screaming,intoastandofpiledrifles,andthebayonetsprickedhiminallhissoftestplaces.So,beforehewastwenty-five,hegaveupbeingafraid,andsohewasthebest-lovedandthebest-looked-afterelephantintheserviceoftheGovernmentofIndia.Hehadcarriedtents,twelvehundredpounds’weightoftents,onthemarchinUpperIndia.

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