DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5833#0194
172
SCENES IN INDIA.
The successor of this prince has by no means fol-
lowed in his father's steps. Having ventured to put
himself in hostile array against a power which no
native force has yet been able successfully to oppose,
he has lost his principality, and is now a state-pri-
soner, his possessions having fallen into the hands of
the East India Company. The present Rajah and the
interesting boy mentioned by Captain Basil Hall in
his visit to the Coorg district, are identical. That
boy, in his manhood, has shown himself to be a cruel
tyrant, and in his reverse of fortune we can follow
him neither with our respect nor with our sympathies.
I cannot forbear mentioning here a circumstance which
took place when he quitted his capital a prisoner: it was
related to me by an eyewitness, as a marvellous proof
of animal sagacity. The Rajah had an extensive stud
of fine elephants, among which was one that had been
in the habit of carrying a taper before the prince when
he retired to rest, and of performing various domes-
tic offices.' When the royal Coorg quitted the town,
this elephant approached the palenkeen in which its
master was reclining, fell upon its knees, made several
salaams, exhibiting every token of the profoundest
respect, and appearing to feel acutely its sovereign's
disgrace. This is not all:—the poor beast, after the
Rajah's departure, began to pine, and when my in-
formant quitted the country wTas reduced to a state of
deplorable infirmity; by this time it has more than
probably ceased to exist. The attachment of these
creatures, where they are kindly treated, frequently
puts Iranian friendships and human attachments to
shame.
SCENES IN INDIA.
The successor of this prince has by no means fol-
lowed in his father's steps. Having ventured to put
himself in hostile array against a power which no
native force has yet been able successfully to oppose,
he has lost his principality, and is now a state-pri-
soner, his possessions having fallen into the hands of
the East India Company. The present Rajah and the
interesting boy mentioned by Captain Basil Hall in
his visit to the Coorg district, are identical. That
boy, in his manhood, has shown himself to be a cruel
tyrant, and in his reverse of fortune we can follow
him neither with our respect nor with our sympathies.
I cannot forbear mentioning here a circumstance which
took place when he quitted his capital a prisoner: it was
related to me by an eyewitness, as a marvellous proof
of animal sagacity. The Rajah had an extensive stud
of fine elephants, among which was one that had been
in the habit of carrying a taper before the prince when
he retired to rest, and of performing various domes-
tic offices.' When the royal Coorg quitted the town,
this elephant approached the palenkeen in which its
master was reclining, fell upon its knees, made several
salaams, exhibiting every token of the profoundest
respect, and appearing to feel acutely its sovereign's
disgrace. This is not all:—the poor beast, after the
Rajah's departure, began to pine, and when my in-
formant quitted the country wTas reduced to a state of
deplorable infirmity; by this time it has more than
probably ceased to exist. The attachment of these
creatures, where they are kindly treated, frequently
puts Iranian friendships and human attachments to
shame.