406
to 30 lbs. of wheat flour, baked into thick cakes, and about 1 ft. of coarse sugar ormolasses; about 1 cwt. of green forage, consisting of branches of the peepul, ficusIndicus, and other trees, or of grasses; or if green food is not given, of the same quan-tity of rice or other straw. In rice countries the same weight of rice (paddy) isusually given instead of the wheat flour. The allowance varies, as above stated, withthe size of the beast and health of the animal, and with the province in which it isemployed. An occasional physic or spice (cordial) ball is necessary. Elephants aresomewhat delicate in their artificial and domesticated state; they require much careand attention, as well as regular and good supplies of food. They are liable to dis-ease, especially from neglected sores caused by badly fitted pads.
The data for the above notice were obtained from authentic sources, and arefounded principally with reference to the employment of elephants in ordinary travel-ling in India . It would appear that with large bodies of troops these useful animalsmust be looked upon as invaluable auxiliary, and not as principal means of transport,being much too costly and too scarce to be made generally available as the latter. Inthe native armies, the disappearance of the chief’s elephant is generally the signal forthat of the rest in immediate retreat.
P. S. Some experiments have been made in applying elephants to the draught oflight field batteries in India ; but they have been considered totally unfitted for suchservice. If thus used, quite independent of other disadvantages, a single shot mightcripple an elephant, and thus virtually disable the gun to which he is attached;while half the usual number of horses or bullocks might be injured without materiallyinterfering with its efficiency in action.
In the newspaper detail of the ‘ Army of the Sutlej ’ advancing to Ferozepore, an‘ elephant battery of iron 12-pounders ’ is mentioned; but this, probably, refers to themeans of transport of the battery, rather than to the manner in which these pieceswould be brought into action, as they must have been position guns.
EMBARKATION. —See ‘ Disembarkation.’
EMBRASURE . —See Notes on Embrasures , at the end of article ‘Loophole.’ENGINEER, MILITARY. *
Under this head will be comprehended—
1. The Corps of Royal Engineers,
2. The East India Company ’s Corps of Engineers ,
3. The Prussian Corps of Royal Engineers,
4. The Corps du Genie of France ,
of which Services only authentic accounts have been obtained of their organization,composition, and duties; but as those of other countries are based upon either of theabove, the want is not perhaps of importance.
SECTION I.
1. The Corps of Royal Enyineers, and Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners, formingone establishment; the former comprising the officers, and the latter the non-com-missioned officers and privates. These corps at present constitute about one-sixtiethof the British army or regular forces, exclusive of those in India .
* By Major-General Lewis, C. B., R. E.