PURCHASE.                                      I I

Forsyth in his work, " The Highlands of Central India," mentions
that there is no end to the tricks carried out by dealers, of which
he had some experience at the Sônpur Fair; some he remarks on
are man-killers reduced to temporary harmlessness by the daily
administration of pills containing opium and Indian hemp, sores
of the feet plugged, cracks " paid " with tow, and sore backs surface-
healed. It is most important therefore that in examining a beast
the utmost care should be exercised to see that the back and other
parts liable to gall are free from sores, scars and tenderness ; in
fact, the whole body must be inspected, the ears examined for sores
and scabs, the ear holes for discharges, and the eyes must be free
from dimness.

The soles of the feet should be well tapped all over before and
after exercise ; if any tenderness is manifested, the part must be
thoroughly examined. Tender patches from excessive wear may
readily be detected by the parts being smooth and pinkish in colour.
The skin around the nails, as also the nails, must be inspected.
Food and water should be presented to see that the trunk is quite
sound, as this most important organ may have been injured by
bamboos, spear wounds, da cuts, etc.

Any individual idiosyncrasy which may exhibit itself, if bearing
on the utility of the animal, should be taken into consideration.
Some elephants are full of nasty tricks ; intending purchasers must
therefore be on their guard, and endeavour to ascertain the pecu-
liarities of any particular beast before taking possession. Most
Burmese elephants prefer being approached from the right side ;
very few from the left; some may be approached from right and
left, and others only from the right or left. A new keeper
unacquainted with such peculiarities incurs the likelihood of being
attacked if the animal be bad-tempered, or of scaring him if of a
nervous disposition.

The following peculiarities in some animals reduce their value,
as they are regarded with superstitious dread by the Burmese. It
is thought that the ownership of such creatures may cost their
masters loss of life or substance :—

(1) A loose fold of skin, descending from the throat clown to
the fore-legs, known as pyazive (, resembling bees settling in
a swarm).

(2)Same as above, but the fold of skin is continued between
the fore-legs on to the abdomen, called kalaga ( like a
purdah).

(3)Moving the head up and down, and simultaneously from left
to right, called moungdoung (, like the action of pounding
rice in an ordinary Burmese rice mortar).