ap, adjustable to any length, on which to lean back. They should
have a strong iron rail all round the top, covered with leather, with
convenient grooves to receive the barrels of the guns, as they rest in
front, ready to either hand. In front there should be compartments for
different kinds of cartridges; and pockets and lockers under the seat,
and at the back, or wherever there is room. Outside should be a strong
iron step, to get out and in by easily, and a strong iron ring,
through which to pass the rope that binds the howdah to the elephant.

You cannot be too careful with your howdah ropes. A chain is generally
used as an auxiliary to the rope, which should be of cotton, strong
and well twisted, and should be overhauled daily, to see that there is
no chafing. It is passed round the foot-bars of the howdah, and
several times round the belly of the elephant.

Another rope acts as a crupper behind, being passed through rings in
the terminal frame-work of the howdah, and under the elephant's tail;
it frequently causes painful sores there, and some drivers give it a
hitch round the tail, in the same way as you would hitch it round a
post. Another steadying rope goes round the elephant's breast, like a
chest-band. 'A merciful man is merciful to his beast.' You should
always, therefore, have a sheet of soft well oiled leather to go
between the chest and belly ropes and the elephant's hide; this
prevents chafing, and is a great relief to the poor old _hathi_, as
they call the elephant. _Hatnee_ is the female elephant. _Duntar_ is a
fellow with large tusks, and _mukna_ is an elephant with small
downward growing tusks.

Many of the old fashioned howdahs are far too heavy; a firm, strong
howdah should not weigh more than 28 lbs. In most of the old fashioned
ones, there is a seat for an attendant. If your attendant be a
Mussulman, he hurries down as soon as you shoot a deer, to cut its
throat. The Mohammedan religion enjoins a variety of rules on its
professors in regard to the slaying of animals for food. Chief of
these is a prohibition, against eating the flesh of an animal that has
died a natural death; the throat of every animal intended to be eaten
should be cut, and at the moment of applying the knife, _Bismillah_
should be said, that is, 'In the name of God.' If therefore your
mahout, or attendant, belong to the religion of the _Koran_, he will
hurry down to cut the throat of a wounded deer if possible before life
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