On the day after the Sowari the gentlemen of the party were conducted to the arena2 of the elephants, which was a large enclosure, reminding those who had seen them of the bull-rings of Spain. It was surrounded by buildings; and on one side, behind a wall, was a vast area of elevated ground from which the people of the town could witness the scenes presented in the arena.
The ladies of the party had made the acquaintance of those of their own sex in the household, and the sports of the day had been discussed among them. On this day it was to be an elephant fight. The native women did not attend, for they never took part in any public affair. Mrs. Belgrave, as soon as she learned the nature of the entertainment, promptly3 declined to be present at it, and the others were of the same mind.
To make the best of it, it was a brutal4 sport. The elephant is a noble beast, so intelligent that he deserves the consideration of man; and to them it seemed barbarous to set them fighting, even if the animals had belligerent5 instincts, though they never displayed them in their domesticated6 condition unless under strong provocation7. Some of the gentlemen regarded the exhibition as but little better than a prize-fight; though they all attended the occasion, for the more sensitive ones thought it would be impolite to decline the invitation, especially as the exhibition was got up especially for them.
They were ushered8 into a large apartment, one side of which consisted of lofty arches, through which the display could be witnessed. At either end of the arena was chained a monster male elephant. A number of female elephants were on an elevation9 near it; and it seemed as though they were placed there for the same reason that the ladies were admitted to the tournaments of the knights10 in England and France. It was said that these females had a decided11 taste for such fights, and possibly the sight of them stimulated12 the male combatants.
There were a number of men, very slightly clothed, in the ring, who seemed like the chulos of the Spanish arena, though their functions could hardly be the same; and there were many openings in the walls through which they could escape, instead of leaping over the fence, as the bull-fighters do. Some of them were armed with lances, and others with a stick with fireworks at the end.
The Guicowar entered the spectators' apartment, which was already well filled with nobles and the foreigners. He was dressed in white linen13, with an elegant cap on his head. He had a fine athletic14 form, and wore a short beard. He was not inclined to take the special arm-chair assigned to him, but walked about, speaking to his guests, not omitting the boys, to whom he appeared to have taken a fancy.
His Highness gave a signal, at which the mahouts took their places on the necks of the big beasts, and the chains which secured the combatants were cast off. The monsters roared, and, with their trunks elevated, advanced to the affray. They increased their speed as they came nearer to each other. They rushed together, as Scott expressed it, "head on," and the strangers seemed to feel the shock through their nerves. It was so violent the beasts dropped upon their knees forward.
Then they began to twist their trunks together, and buck15 with their tusks16. For some minutes the giants wrestled17 together, but the combat proved to be of brief duration. The party could see that one of them was getting the worst of it, and was inclined to "hedge." In fact, he had had enough of it; but he was too wise to abandon his tactics when it was time for him to retreat. Mustering18 all his power, he made a desperate effort, and succeeded in forcing the other back enough to turn his huge body without exposing his flank to the tusks of the enemy, and then beat a hasty retreat.
The vanquished19 brute20 was removed from the arena, and the victor remained alone on the field he had won; but he had only come to the beginning of his troubles, for there was a second act to the affair. The men, who were armed with whips, fireworks, red cloths, and other instruments of torment21, assailed22 him. They pricked23 him with the javelins24, shook the red banners in his face, and fizzed the pyrotechnics before his eyes. They tormented25 the poor creature till he was furious. He had no adequate weapon for this unequal and unfair warfare26.
He chased one assailant and then another, being as often turned aside from his intended victims by the thorning of the other tormentors. As he became a little more accustomed to the game, he ceased to be diverted from his victim and confined his attention to only one. The red banners, the blows from the whips, and the fizzing of the powder, did not affect him. He pursued his victim till the man was glad to save himself by dodging27 through one of the narrow doors in the wall, where the monster could not follow him. He butted28 against the wall, and then pounded the earth with his feet in the fury of his wrath29.
If the man had far to run he would inevitably30 be lost; for the elephant, clumsy as he appears to be, develops great speed of foot when he is excited. An incident was related by one of the nobles to Captain Ringgold as the runner disappeared within the door. A young man who was very swift of foot was closely pursued by the elephant, and had reached the door, when he was seized by the arm, tossed in the air, and came down heavily on the ground. The foot of the infuriate beast was raised to crush his skull31, when another man flashed a Bengal light in his face, with the flame almost in his eyes, and the giant bellowed32 and fled.
At the blast of a bugle33 all the men in the ring suddenly deserted34 it. The elephant looked about him for any new assailant, and was immediately provided with one. A door flew open, and a fine looking fellow, mounted on a magnificent horse, dashed into the arena. After the manner of the matador35 in a bull-fight, he conducted his steed, prancing36 in his pride, up to the arch at which the Guicowar stood, and saluted37 him with the grace of a knight-errant whose head was full of ladies.
The elephant is said to have an especial aversion to a horse; and the tormented beast in the ring at once manifested the prejudice of his race, for he made a dart38 for him. The horse did not flinch39, but stood still till the giant was almost upon him. Then, at the command of his master, he wheeled, and the rider gave the big beast a smart punch with his lance. For a few minutes there was a lively skirmish between them, the horseman pricking40 him on the trunk or the flanks, and the rage of the elephant was at its highest pitch.
The fleetness of the horse and the skill of his rider kept the latter out of harm's way till the elephant seemed to be exhausted41. The Americans thought he had done enough for one day, and the horseman retired42. The great beast which had borne the brunt of three combats was allowed to cool off, and then his mahout conducted him to the rest he had bravely won. The nobles in attendance were sufficiently43 civilized44 to indulge in betting, and wagers46 had been made on the various fights in progress. Mr. Woolridge, who was a reformed sportsman, may have been tempted47; but he did not feel at home in this kind of sporting, and he did not break through any of his good resolutions.
After the elephant had been removed, there was no little excitement among the assemblage in the veranda48, and the betting seemed to be livelier than ever. A dozen officers armed with rifles and lances were stationed about the walls of the arena; and then an iron-bound cage was drawn49 into the enclosure, which contained a monstrous50 tiger. The guests wondered if this fierce brute was to be loosed in the arena, and they examined with interest into the safety of the situation. A number of rifles were brought into the veranda, with which the Guicowar and his native guests armed themselves.
"What does this mean, Sir Modava?" asked Captain Ringgold.
"The next battle will be a noble one, and immense wagers are depending upon the result," replied the Hindu gentleman.
"Is that big tiger to fight the crowd here assembled?"
"Not at all; but it is such a battle as has never been fought here, if anywhere. His Highness had long desired to see a bull-fight, and he imported four of the finest Spanish bulls his agent could find. The toreadors came with them; but they all refused to fight in this arena, which they declared was not adapted to the purpose, and they went home. Three of the bulls died of disease, and only one was left. A discussion arose as to whether he was a match for a tiger. This battle is to settle the question; and the bets are mostly in favor of the tiger, though the Guicowar, with a few others, places his stake on the bull," Sir Modava explained.
The tiger was released from the cage at a signal from the king. He leaped from the cage, and seemed to be astonished at the sight of so many people. Three officers took possession of the brute's prison, armed with rifles to shoot him if he killed the bull. No person was in the ring, or within reach of the savage51 animal. The door by which the horseman had entered was thrown wide open, and the bovine52, vexed53 to the highest degree of wrath, came into the arena with a bounding run.
The tiger had advanced quietly to the centre of it, though with the royal mien54 of the "king of beasts," as he was here, his eyes like a couple of coals of fire. He caught sight of the bull as soon as he appeared, for he had doubtless killed many a bullock in the jungle. He planted himself on the ground in readiness for a spring. His present enemy saw him at the same instant; but he did not halt, or show any signs of fear.
"The striped beast went up into the air."--Page 263.
"The striped beast went up into the air."--Page 263.
The bull crouched55 his head, increased his speed, and bounded on the tiger. At that moment the striped beast went up into the air so quickly that the audience could hardly see how it was done. His horned foe56 showed that he had not wholly escaped, for his head was covered with blood. But the tiger was not yet defeated. He sprang to his feet, and darted57 furiously at his enemy. He fastened with claws and teeth upon the neck of the bull, and the king believed that his wager45 was lost.
But the Spaniard shook him off, and turned upon him again, tossing him higher in the air than before. He came down badly disabled; and the bull, as though it was the finest sport in the world for him, gored58 him with his long horns till the life was gone out of him. The Spaniard was the victor. The people shouted themselves hoarse59; but their cries were in honor of the Guicowar, and not the bull. The victor had lost a great deal of blood from a bad wound in the neck, and it was a question whether or not he would die; but he did not; he recovered, and before the tourists left India Sir Modava learned that he had been killed in a battle with a smaller tiger than the first.
Though the guests said but little about it, most of them were disgusted with these spectacles, and considered them cruel and brutal. They remained their week at Baroda. Those who desired to do so were taken to a hunt one day with a cheetah60, in which this animal killed deer and other animals; and on another, on elephants, for tigers. Two tigers were killed, and Louis Belgrave had the honor of shooting one of them. Felix brought down a couple of cobras; and killing61 them seemed to be his forte62. Khayrat invited the party to witness a battle between his mongoose and a couple of cobras his hunters had caught; and he killed them both, one at a time.
They all declined to attend a fight between a couple of coolies, with horn spikes63 attached to their hands, for this was worse than a prize-fight. But there was no end of amusements that were not brutal, and they enjoyed themselves abundantly to the end of their stay. They visited the temples and the palaces of the nobles, where they were received with the utmost attention. Captain Sharp and his wife declared this was the red-letter week of their lives; but the commander of the Blanche insisted that he must take his ship around to Calcutta, and left by train for Bombay the day before the company departed.
The Guicowar resorted to various expedients64 to retain his guests, with whom he was evidently sincerely pleased; but the commander was inflexible65. It was not possible to see a tithe66 of India, and he felt obliged to leave at the expiration67 of the time he had fixed68 for the visit, and he begged Lord Tremlyn and Sir Modava not to place them in any more courts, or they would never get out of India. The train was prepared for their departure, and, in addition to the compartment69 cars in which they were to pass most of their time, a carriage was fitted up, so that all of them could assemble in it; in fact, it was a conference hall on wheels.
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1
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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3
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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4
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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5
belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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domesticated
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| adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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8
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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10
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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11
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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12
stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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13
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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14
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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15
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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16
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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17
wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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18
mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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19
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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20
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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22
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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23
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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24
javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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25
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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26
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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27
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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28
butted
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| 对接的 | |
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29
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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30
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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31
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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32
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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33
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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34
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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35
matador
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| n.斗牛士 | |
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36
prancing
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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38
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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39
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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40
pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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41
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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42
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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43
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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44
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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45
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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46
wagers
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| n.赌注，用钱打赌( wager的名词复数 )v.在（某物）上赌钱，打赌( wager的第三人称单数 )；保证，担保 | |
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47
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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48
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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49
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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50
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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51
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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52
bovine
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| adj.牛的；n.牛 | |
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53
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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54
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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55
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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57
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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58
gored
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| v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破( gore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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60
cheetah
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| n.(动物)猎豹 | |
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61
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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62
forte
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| n.长处，擅长；adj.(音乐)强音的 | |
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63
spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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64
expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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65
inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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66
tithe
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| n.十分之一税；v.课什一税，缴什一税 | |
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67
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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68
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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69
compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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