Indian Antiquary Vol 14

SR No.: 032506
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 418
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1885.
feed on fish, the statement which Ælian denies was probably to some extent founded on actual observation.
10. THE ELEPHANT ('Elépas). Elephas indicus, Cuv.-The Indian Elephant.
There are, as might be expected, numerous allusions to the Elephant by Megasthenes, Arrian, and the author of the Periplus. Its mode of capture is described, as also are its training, its uses in the chase and in war, its habits, and certain peculiarities of its constitation. Some of these latter, as, for instance, those connected with the coming together of the sexes, are correct, though a myth in reference to this last exists even at the present day, and is very commonly believed by many.
The elephants of Taprobanê (i.e. Ceylon) are distinguished, according to Ælian's accountderived perhaps from Megasthenes - as being larger, and more intelligent, than those of the mainland. The same author, too, describes a white elephant, and relates in reference to it a story of its devotion to its master.
The author of the Periplus mentions several ports, both in Africa and India, whence elephas (i.e., ivory) was an article of export, as we know it had been since the days of Solomon
A very fair monograph of the habits and external characteristics of the elephant might be written from the facts recorded by the above anthors, supplemented by such as are given by Strabo and Pliny. 11. THE KARTAZONON AND THE INDIAN Ass.
(Kaprátwvov, Ivõukos ovos). Rhinoceros indicus, Cuv.-The Rhinoceros.
Genda, Hin. The Kartazónon of Megasthenes and the horued ass of Ktësias, although separately described by Alian as if they were distinct ani. mals, appear to be both capable of identification with the rhinoceros. This fact has been already more or less generally accepted by writers, although some particulars, especially those as to the colour, have given rise to much discussion and argument. It seems probable that the Rhinoceros was also the original of the monokeros, or unicorn, which, as we have good
cause to know, is usually represented as an Horned Ass. Ælian's" description of the Kartazônon is as follows:-"It is also said that thero exists in India a one-horned animal, called by the natives the Kartazôn. It is of the size of a fall-grown horse, and has a crest and yellow hair soft as wool. It is furnished with very good legs, and is very fleet. Its legs are joint. less, and formed like those of the elephant; and it has a tail like a swine's. A horn sprouts out from between its eyebrows, and this is not straight, but curved into the most natural wreaths, and is of a black colour. This horn is said to be extremely sharp. The animal, as I learn, has a voice beyond all example-loud, ringing, and dissonant."
Photios's account of the "horned wild ass." of Ktésias agrees, in the main particulars, with one by Ælian. That by the former is as follows: "Among the Indians there are wild asses as large as horses, some being even larger. Their head is of a dark-red colour, their eyes blue, and the rest of their body white. They have a horn on their forehead, a cubit in length (the filings of this horn, given in a potion, are an antidote to poisonous drugs). This horn, for about two palm-breadths upwards from the base, is of the parest white, where it tapers to a sharp point, of a flaming crimson, and in the middle it is black. These horns are made into drinking-cups, and such as drink from them are attacked neither by convulsions nor by the sacred discase (epilepsy); nay, they are not even affected by poisons, if either before or after swallowing them they drink from these cups wine, water, or any. thing else. While other asses, moreover, whether wild or tame, and indeed all other solid-boofed animals, bave neither huokle-bones (astragulus) nor gall in the liver, these onehorned asses have both. Their huckle-bone is the most beautiful of all I have ever seen, and is in appearance and size like that of the ox. It is as heavy as lead, and of the colour of cinnabar, both on the surface and all throughout. It is an exceedingly fleet and strong animal, and no creature that parsues it, not even the horse, can overtake it," &c. the Tibetan antelope, which when seen in profile appears to have only one horn, as was stated by the Abbé Huc. 56 Hist. Anim, xvi. 20, 21. 3 Ecloga in Photii, Bibl. lxxii. 25; cf. Anc. India, by J. W. M'Crindle.
0 Hist. Anim. iv. 52.
» [Cf. Panjab Notes and Queries, Vol. I. bote 85. In J. A 8. B. for 1839, p. 919, it is stated that a Kumuni wwore he had seen unicorn with tho Rajů of Garhwal and that on inspection it turned out to be a rhinoceros.Ep. The unicorn of the Highlands is Kemas Hodgsoni,