Not far distant from Plassey is the Company’s _Fīl-khana_, or Elephant
establishment, whence the animals are coming down to the side of the
river. One of the elephants in the distance is raising his _mahout_, or
driver, with his trunk, to enable him to gain his seat on his neck:
another is drinking, taking up the water with his proboscis and pouring
it into his own mouth; a third is lying in the river enjoying the
coolness, whilst his attendants are scrubbing and cleaning him.
A group of natives, attendants on the elephants, are sitting round a
fire, baking the large cakes that form the repast of these animals,
added to a small dinner of half a _pīpul-tree_, or a hundred-weight of
grass! A _mahout_, or driver, is very fond of whispering to his elephant
some superstitious tale; which, if the animal does not understand, it is
amongst the few things this most wonderful of God’s creatures does not
comprehend.