The Elephant

Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the Owners of the Elephant?
Did He not make their plot go astray?
And He sent against them birds, in flocks, striking them with stones of Sijjil (baked clay).
And He made them like (an empty field of) stalks (of which corn has been eaten up by cattle).

Al-Fil 105

The Story of the Army of the Elephants

This incident happened during the same year the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born (570 C.E.).

Abrahah Al-Ashram (by some accounts, he was a Christian) was the governor of Yemen on behalf of the king of Ethiopia (as Yemen was apart of the Ethiopian kingdom). He (Abrahah ) thought to build a house (church) like the Ka’bah in Makkah in San’a (the capital of Yemen) and called unto all Arabs to perform the pilgrimage there in San’a instead of the Ka’bah (Al-Bait Al-Haram) in Makkah, with the intention of diverting caravan trade and religious faith (allegedly intent of Evangelism) from Makkah to Yemen.

He presented his idea to the king of Ethiopia who agreed to his idea. So the house (church) was built and he named it Al-Quallais; there was no church of its like at the time (by some accounts, it was considered an impressive "Cathedral" in appearance).

Then a man from the Quraish tribe of Makkah came there and was infuriated by it, so he relieved himself in it, soiled the walls and went away.

When Abrahah Al-Ashram saw he could not control his anger and raised an army to invade Makkah and demolish the Ka’bah. He had in that army thirteen elephants and amongst them was an elephant called Mahmud which was the biggest of them.

So that army proceeded and none amongst the Arab tribes that faced them (fought against them) but was killed and defeated, till it approached Makkah.

Then there took place negotiations between Abrahah Al-Ashram and the chief of Makkah (Abdul-Muttalib bin Hashim, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad [PBUH]) and it was concluded that Abrahah would restore the camels of Abdul-Muttalib which he had taken away and the he (Abrahah Al-Ashram) would decide himself as regards to the Ka’bah.

Abdul-Muttalib [prayed to Allah (Hashem) then] ordered the men of Makkah to evacuate the city and go to the top of the mountains along with their wives and children in case some harm should come to them from the invading oppressors.

Then that army moved towards Makkah till they reached Muhassir Valley.

While the army was marching towards Makkah, in the middle of the valley, suddenly it was overtaken by flocks of birds, flocks after flocks, air raiding that army with small stones slightly bigger then a lentil seed.

There never fell a stone on a soldier except it dissolved his flesh and burst it into pieces (Interpreted by some, as Smallpox or similar aliment). So they perished with a total destruction.

Abrahah Al-Ashram fled away while his flesh was bursting into pieces till he died on the way (back to Yemen).

Such was the victory bestowed by Allah (Hashem) to the people of Makkah and such was the protection provided by Him for the Ka’bah in Makkah.

The Magnificent Elephant

As to the children’s classic story of 'Little Red Riding Hood' telling the wolf, “What big teeth you have,” the elephant has the biggest teeth of any animal and will have six sets during their lifetime. New teeth form at the rear of the mouth, pushing older teeth farther forward until these reach the front, wear down with wear and eventually drop out.

Its tusks are enlarged incisor teeth that are permanent and grow continuously- in the case of an adult male, nearly 7 in (17 cm) each year to measure almost 6 ft (2 m)’ with a quarter of this length hidden inside the jaw. These enormous “shovel”-that can also rip, scrape and serve as a weapon weigh over 220 lb (100 kg) each elephants are right and left tusks, just as people are right and left handed.

As to some elephants having no tusks such as some Asian elephants; there are many significant differences between the African and Asian elephants.

As to the prehistoric Mammoth and Mastodon of the Ice Age, these two animals where apart of the elephant family; with the Mammoth having fur and massive tusks and the Mastodon, without fur but with tusks more like their present relatives.

A newborn baby elephant named “Kai Mook” and mother “Phyo Phyo” pictured at the Antwerp Zoo, Belgium; born 17 May 2009.

An elephant has the longest gestation period of any mammal-at up to 608 days or just over 20 months. While a new born baby elephant is up in about 30 minutes and usually able to join the herd within a few days.



Elephant milk is extreme in nutritional value which the richness is unacceptable for any other animal or humans because of the inability to digest the richness of the milk properly.

Elephants have very specific mating customs that is rather intricate and complex- a male elephant doesn’t began to be interested in a mate until they are about thirty or forty years old, partly due to their strength among the other male elephants. Their mating season, which is not specific; is called “Musth” (which is said, to be a Persian term for intoxicated) and they can mate on land or occasionally, in water.

The average lifespan of an elephant is about 60 to 70 years.

Death is usually heralded by the wearing out of the last set of teeth. If an elderly elephant dies in one of the herd, the family members will stay by the corpse for a long time. They give the appearance of undergoing an intense mourning period, sometimes conducting week-long vigils over the body and participating in a burial ritual, carefully covering the corpse with earth and brush.

When a matriarch dies, the mourning is much more intensive; with physical interaction with the corpse or bones, even if the particular elephant was a stranger they discovered during their travels.



As to a baby elephant dies regardless of the circumstances of death or on the occasion of theft such as by a human, a mother alone with grieve up to three days.

Under the photograph is a song called “Baby Elephant Walk,” by composer Henry Mancini for the 1962 movie release of “Hatari;” starring John Wayne.

To generally describe an elephant and despite their immense size, an elephant is regal, intelligent, wise and enjoys strong loving family bonds, with a vigorous social structure; but also nurture one-to-one relationships that go far beyond the boundaries of the immediate herd, so that individuals may separate and reunite after a long period of time.

As to the old adage of an elephant never forgets, is that an elephant will remember one another after spending many years apart.

In ancient times among some of the Greeks, Chinese and early Christians all praised the elephant for chastity, faithfulness and modesty. Even the ancient Roman Empire with their immense idolatry, the elephant was equated with piety.

An elephant’s trunk has no bones, but does have 16 main muscles and about 150,000 of what some call, “special muscles units;” to provide fine movement. The trunk is the longest animal snout in the world and is powerful enough to kill a lion with a single blow. It also serves normally as a useful snorkel when an elephant is swimming in deep water and to show affection among the herd; especially with a baby elephant.

When an elephant drinks, it sucks the water only part way up the trunk, before tilting its head up and letting the water flow into its mouth. An elephant drink usually consists of about 2.4 Gallons (9 liters) of water; while an elephant consumes about 550 lb (250 kg) of food per day.

The African elephant is taller than their Asian counterpart with longer legs and an average height of 9-12 ft (3 to 3.65 m) their shoulders marking the highest point. The largest African elephant recorded weighed 27, 00 lb (12.2 tonnes) and stood 13.8 ft (4.2m) high at the shoulders-twice as tall as a human.

The Asian elephant stands a little lower at 7-11.5 ft (2.3.5m) and the top of the head marks the highest point.

No “Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig” here- an African elephant can tip over the scales ranging from about 8800-15,000 lb (4000 to 7000 kg), so they weigh about the same as a single Decker bus. But an Asian elephant weighs in a bit lighter at 6600-11,000 lb (3000 to 5000 kg).

Some herds may cover nearly 120 miles (220 km) in a single day, usually an elephant walks at about 4 mph (6.5 kph). Some researchers now believe that an elephant can run 15 mph (24 kph) gaining speed by crouching and swaying as it hurries along. A charging elephant can reach speeds of over 25 mph (40 kph).

An elephant is extremely agile, they can walk foreword, backward and stand on their hind legs; such as leaning on a tree.

An elephant is sensitive to temperature, if the outside temperature rises above 77 F (25 C) the elephant fans its great ears as a form of “air conditioners.” The blood flows through the vast network of capillaries and veins into the ears causing their temperature to drop by at least 9 F (5 C) or sometimes even more. Then it flows back to the elephant’s main circulation system.

An elephant’s wrinkled skin is thick on their backs and sides, but remains sensitive to the sun-cooling off in water or a luxurious mud bath is very important to their welfare and to think, humans are not the only ones to treat themselves to a spa treatment.

Elephant ears are unique; the African elephant’s ears are three times the size of the Asian elephant and measures 6ft by 4ft. (1.8 by 1.2 m) in area.

As to communication, an elephant can communicate over long distances, using low-frequency infrasound; messages for example may warn them of impeding danger or too some occasions to visit another herd. In the early morning or evening, when the air is cool at ground level and there is little interference; an elephants infrasonic sounds may be heard across an area of 110 miles (285 km); which has been studied by researchers.

The White Elephant

A view of the Grand Palace from the Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok, Thailand

When one thinks of Siam, some may have vision's of Siam from the "King and I" (with a very famous bald headed Yul Brynner, as king Mongkut); a 1956 musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the book "Anna and the King of Siam;" by Margaret Landon.

But here we are going to talk about the origin of the term “white elephant,” especially to anyone who has participated in what is called a “White Elephant Sale;” it is said, some Siamese (now modern Thailand) emperors would give white elephants to courtiers (royal court attendants) who offended them.

They where forbidden to ride, work or kill these animals, the offenders, none the less had the great expense of caring for them.

A white elephant in 19th century Thailand art

As to does a white elephant actually exist, yes; but they are considered quite rare and revered in many parts of the world and in some area's considered as a symbol of purity. It has been said that in some parts of the world when a white elephant is found or born, there are celebrations.

Nevertheless, while an elephant can be extremely fierce if a circumstance arises for them to be so, such as a threat or battle, for they can be tremendously aggressive; as they are not necessarily complacent animals; but, they also can be just as gentle and affectionate; for they have a fully developed sense of awareness.


The Animal Kingdom
While many animals are apprehensive too at times aggressive towards humans, due to abuse, aggression or in some cases hunting for food by humans; but what many people may be unaware that there is many in the animal kingdom that is actually friendly towards humans, under the right conditions.

Such as if one appreciates and in many cases care’s for an animal, such as the elephant for example; a type of friendship will develop. This is also why some cases, a human can ride an elephant or in some parts of the world menial labor, that a normal human is unable to do.

But mistreatment as even what is sometimes subjected towards humans, the self-protection and rebellion mode will appear; just as humans have this internal self-survival mode. For it is thought whether animal or human no one appreciates being subjected to physical or emotional cruelty, while an animal may fight back or flee; humans may also do the same or try to respond in a positive manner for that which caused the situation, to change it for the better. It has been found that in actuality unlike some humans, an animal very seldom holds a grudge; the usual response is one of trying to be friendly or response from repetitious experience.

A person more of a quiet, kind spirit is more likely to develop numerous acquaintances within the animal kingdom; whether they are four-legged, two-legged or can fly. Furthermore, a person of this nature is more likely if an animal or bird is in the need of aid; seek out this type of person. One may find a patter at a window or door and in some cases, if one happens to have a door or window left open; will actually walk, put their head in or fly into the house.

As to some within the animal kingdom itself, there are many animals that even develop a type of friendship with each other, such as a simple domestic canine, caring for a cat’s kittens; even under the right conditions, the lion lying down with the lamb is not as far-fetched as one may believe.

As to something a person need’s to remember, Allah (Hashem) was creating them, during the same period; He was creating man. Furthermore, mankind was given the responsibility for the whole earth to function properly (for the earth to stay in a balanced state) and its care by Allah (Hashem); it is also mankind’s responsibility to not cause the extinction of any living thing upon the earth-including not just each other as humans, but also vegetation (including trees), animal’s, fish, birds and so forth; what ever it may be according to Allah's (Hashem's) law's from the beginning of time (Genesis 1: 20-28).

As to the level of intelligence, it varies the same as human’s within any given species, as well as emotions and certain other elements usually associated to mankind. Such as the ability to have language skills, all animal’s have their own language or form of communication and just as any language different then your own, some people have a bit of troubles understanding them; let alone, I do not think too many people have met any Doctor Doolittle's lately.





The Elephant Campaign

There is even an historical account and was further studied by an archaeological finding, that the forerunner for the modern day automobile battery; was created in the Middle East.

Hannibal Crossing the AlpsA 1510 fresco, by Palazzo del Campidoglio (Capitoline Museum); in Rome

But from the Roman Empire, the Carthaginians (modern day Tunis) under Hannibal (during the Second Punic War, against Roman Empire occupation), the Persians defending themselves against Alexander the Greats conquest ( into what is known as present day Iran); the elephant has been trained for battle.

Elephants have sometimes been described as the forerunners of the military tank and male elephants in particular, where generally used for war campaigns.

This is due to the male elephants strength and size; as they have been also found to be under certain circumstances (such as in “Musth,” when their is a baby elephant within a particular herd or human and elephant friendship), more immensely aggressive.

Yemen and the Roman Empire

Bust of Caesar Augustus

(23 September 63 B.C.E – 19 August C.E. 14)

Yemen had been under Roman Empire control since the first century C.E., with then Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus and continued to be so until the fall of the Roman Empire.

The Death of Caesar, by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1867)

Less we forget, on 15 March 44 BCE, (Julius Caesar) Augustus adoptive father Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was assassinated by a conspiracy led by Roman Senator Marcus Junius Brutus and Roman Senator Gaius Cassius Longinus and from here assumed the title of Emperor. Which Augustus is also well known, for his alleged liaison with the Egyptian Cleopatra.

The Roman’s called Yemen “Arabia Felix.”
Even with the Islamic Age, the Roman idolatry was still being subjected upon the inhabitants of the area; as the Roman’s did to so many of their conquest oppressive holdings.

By some historical accounts, there was also an extensive Jewish population in Yemen prior the first conquest of the Roman Empire that was being subjected to the same maltreatment as the Roman Empire did in Israel.

These Jewish inhabitants lived prosperous in Yemen, as many of the Arab population; until the Roman tyrannical Conquest.

A State of Peace

During the times of peace in the Middle East, especially, overwhelming claims during the Islamic Age; with the absence of any type of (foreign) wars or occupations; this area has seen unprecedented prosperity (which for a time was considered a Utopian environment; this period was called, "The Golden Age" or the "Age of Gold") and advancements in all fields from science, architecture, medicine, tapestries, the first museums, universities, hospitals and etc; far out seen any other place in the known world, by numerous historical accounts.

While some of these advancements are used on into our modern times in many forms, while some others were so advanced that some parts of the world outside of the Middle East are still trying to decipher these methods even today; in one particular, in the field of medicine where there is many cures for some of maladies that still afflict people.

Behold

As the elephant is a symbol of the Divine (Allah, Hashem), the turtle also carries that which is of peace for all mankind. Some people in error equate just the turtledove as the symbol of peace; where the turtle is both peace and the divine.


It is historically well-known, that anytime there is an absolute state of peace (with the complete absence of hostilities and iniquities) and Divine faith (Monotheism); people will see prosperity, equality, advancements and a whole host of numerous wonderment's; even beyond most people’s conception of possibilities.

But anytime, foreign invaders have marched into the Middle East with war and blood upon their swords; all the prosperity and knowledge created through any former peace; ensues into anarchy and destruction, too even seem to reverse; for war and devastation creates such as this.  For this has been seen time and again throughout the annals of history; for example of that which was Baghdad and this city even today, since the 2003 illegal US invasion of the country under the Bush administration and carried on into the Obama administration; with no true end in sight nor real freedom from repressive occupation and ethnic cleansing for Iraq, not even Afghanistan.


This is also has been the policy of the US, for quite some time concerning any portion of this part of the world; as far back to even the policy by the Roosevelt Administration in the early part of the twentieth century.
This also concurs with the long term Western cultural ideals influx to keep this part of the world destabilized and attempt to destroy the Middle Eastern culture, as those that came before; such as the days of Roman conquest.

Scholars Jewel of the World

At one time, the greatest scholars came to Baghdad (Iraq) during the eighth century for this city was considered for a span of over four hundred years as the place of unlimited knowledge and was known by many as the "Scholars Jewel of the World."

Thinkers, artists, philosophers, scientist, scholars or whom every they may be, came to Baghdad‘s great library, which was known as the House of Wisdom; they where not just Muslim, but Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Greek, to anyone in the known world was welcome to come and not only share knowledge, solves problems, create advancements with this shared knowledge, but translate many languages so anyone could read any give subject available; to the actual creations of the first printed books, which for a time had a vast number of them; even more then has been claimed many times in Catholic libraries from the time of the Dark Ages and where not allowed to be viewed by the public.

Baghdad was also well known for its palaces with a magnificence that rivaled ancient Rome or Athens. One visitor to the city left this account, “All the exquisite neighborhoods covered with parks, gardens, villas and beautiful promenades are filled with bazaars and finally built Masjids and baths.”
It was also considered a place of tranquility, which overwhelmed as some expressed the very soul.

The Baghdad of this era was later destroyed by a foreign invasion and numerous books from the House of Wisdom were thrown into the Euphrates River; which some historical accounts claimed to be lost forever.

A Place of Prayer: Birth Place of Civilization

While the Middle East since the early beginnings of time has been known as the “Birth Place of Civilization,” due to the fact that within four rivers was the Garden of Eden; but through the rivers of time this area whether people always realized has influenced the known world in many aspects for thousands of years, whether through knowledge or kindness the Middle East was there.

While many especially towards the West, has seen the Middle East for centuries as not just a place of mysteries of fascination; but while the Pyramids may still be in Egypt, the Pharaohs are long past gone and no the Middle East is not just desert and Bedouins for this is not the case; for the terrain and civilization is as diversified and beautiful as her people and the food is known the world over. Also, with the many Western children’s stories; the Middle East is not a place of fantasy and flying carpets, even though some may invision that it was so.

As to the people or countries that have developed into modernization, in some area’s far surpassing some other area’s of the world; which while this is not new, some people especially because of media propaganda find it hard to comprehend.

Even with this modern age of foreign wars (by the United States) that surrounds the Middle East at this time, she stands steadfast towards the principles that has cemented this part of the world longer then throughs’ who attempt to inflict a tear within this fabric of civilization. For it is yet a reminder, that even the ancient Roman Empire; is nothing but now a shadowed reflection in a dusty history book, lies in ruins or in oil; on a museum wall, somewhere.

Nevertheless, the people themselves, speak several languages or variations; each country is not the same as the neighboring country, not just culturally; but historically. But what one will usually find is a friendliness and hospitality that has been the fabric of this part of the world for thousands of years.

Where ever, one may go within the Middle East; one will come away with an inner joy that there is no words to describe, just be happy for the experience; for this feeling is imbedded within the heart an illuminates from all who has their origins from the beginning of time.

From Judaism to the early part of the Islamic Age, during prayer times; all monotheistic religions pointed towards Jerusalem, as this city is written as "the center of Allah’s (Hashem‘s) throne."

It wasn’t by some historical accounts, changed until after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); which for Muslim's even today; is towards Makkah.

An Iraqi youth checks an oil lamp at a shop in Baghdad's bazaar on 18 August 2009, as people prepare for the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadan during which believers stay up late at night to pray and have their last meal just before dawn. Electricity is a rare commodity in Iraq as regular power cuts leave people reliant on primitive forms of lighting and cooling. Electricity was in the Middle East, quite awhile before even the first street light ever glowed within the streets of London; according to oral and historical accounts. As well as many other forms of technology, that is now considered modern comforts. -HRM Deborah

"Let's Read a Story about Elephants"

Young Boy and Colorful Elephant Cross a wooden bridge, India

Elephants are very popular figures in children’s stories for quite some time. Such as Rudyard Kipling’s charming tale of “The Elephant Child” about a curious elephant, in the 'Just So Stories' (1902) or “The Jungle Book" (1895).

Toomai of the Elephants

I will remember what I was. I was sick of
rope and chain.
I will remember my old strength and
all my forest affairs.
I will not sell my back to man for a bundle
of sugar-cane.
I will go out to my own kind, and
the wood-folk in their lairs.
I will go out until the day, until the
morning break,
Out to the winds’ untainted kiss, the
waters clean caress:
I will not forget my ankle-ring and snap
my picket-stake.
I will visit my lost loved ones, and playmates
Masterless!

(by Rudyard Kipling, from "The Jungle Book")

Then for example those featured by more recent authors, such as “Babar the Elephant;” who first appeared in 1931 in books by Jean De Brunhoff (‘Laurent De Brunhoff,’ a writer and illustrator, continued the Babar series that his father originated; after his father’s premature death in 1937, at 37 years old) and “Elmer the Story of the Patchwork Elephant” by David Mckeel in 1968.

By yet, while these are just a few- one is assured to find so many others in different languages throughout the world.

"Growing Up With Babar"

The travels of Babar the Elephant have captured audiences for almost 80 years. Now, the children's books are being celebrated at The Morgan Library and Museum in New York; in 2004.

There is also now, a Babar television series that is broadcast in 30 languages in over 150 countries, making it one of the largest distributed animation shows in history.

THE ELEPHANT'S CHILD

by Rudyard Kipling 

This is the Elephant Child

Underneath the truly pictures of African animals walking into an African ark. There are two lions, two ostriches, two oxen, two camels, two sheep, and two other things that look like rats, but I think they are rock-rabbits. They don’t mean anything, I put them their because I thought they looked pretty. They would look very fine if I were allowed to paint them. (by Rudyard Kipling, from the 'Just So Stories')

IN the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, hano trunk.
He had only a blackish, bulgy nose, as big as a boot,
that he could wriggle about from side to side; but he couldn't
pick up things with it. But there was one Elephant--a new
Elephant--an Elephant's Child--who was full of 'satiable
curtiosity, and that means he asked ever so many questions. And
he lived in Africa, and he filled all Africa with his 'satiable
curtiosities. He asked his tall aunt, the Ostrich, why her
tail-feathers grew just so, and his tall aunt the Ostrich spanked
him with her hard, hard claw. He asked his tall uncle, the
Giraffe, what made his skin spotty, and his tall uncle, the
Giraffe, spanked him with his hard, hard hoof. And still he was
full of 'satiable curtiosity! He asked his broad aunt, the
Hippopotamus, why her eyes were red, and his broad aunt, the
Hippopotamus, spanked him with her broad, broad
hoof; and he asked his hairy uncle, the Baboon, why melons tasted
just so, and his hairy uncle, the Baboon, spanked him with his
hairy, hairy paw. And still he was full of 'satiable curtiosity!
He asked questions about everything that he saw, or heard, or
felt, or smelt, or touched, and all his uncles and his aunts
spanked him. And still he was full of 'satiable curtiosity!

One fine morning in the middle of the Precession of the Equinoxes
this 'satiable Elephant's Child asked a new fine question that he
had never asked before. He asked, 'What does the Crocodile have
for dinner?' Then everybody said, 'Hush!' in a loud and dretful
tone, and they spanked him immediately and directly, without
stopping, for a long time.

By and by, when that was finished, he came upon Kolokolo Bird
sitting in the middle of a wait-a-bit thorn-bush, and he said,
'My father has spanked me, and my mother has spanked me; all my
aunts and uncles have spanked me for my 'satiable curtiosity; and
still I want to know what the Crocodile has for dinner!'

Then Kolokolo Bird said, with a mournful cry, 'Go to the banks of
the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with
fever-trees, and find out.'

That very next morning, when there was nothing left of the
Equinoxes, because the Precession had preceded according to
precedent, this 'satiable Elephant's Child took a hundred pounds
of bananas (the little short red kind), and a hundred pounds of
sugar-cane (the long purple kind), and seventeen melons (the
greeny-crackly kind), and said to all his dear families,
'Goodbye. I am going to the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo
River, all set about with fever-trees, to find out what the
Crocodile has for dinner.' And they all spanked him once more
for luck, though he asked them most politely to stop.

Then he went away, a little warm, but not at all astonished,
eating melons, and throwing the rind about, because he could not
pick it up.

He went from Graham's Town to Kimberley, and from Kimberley to
Khama's Country, and from Khama's Country he went east by north,
eating melons all the time, till at last he came to the banks of
the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with
fever-trees, precisely as Kolokolo Bird had said.

Now you must know and understand, O Best Beloved, that till that
very week, and day, and hour, and minute, this 'satiable
Elephant's Child had never seen a Crocodile, and did not know
what one was like. It was all his 'satiable curtiosity.

The first thing that he found was a Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake
curled round a rock.

''Scuse me,' said the Elephant's Child most politely, 'but have
you seen such a thing as a Crocodile in these promiscuous parts?'

'Have I seen a Crocodile?' said the
Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake, in a voice of dretful scorn. 'What
will you ask me next?'

''Scuse me,' said the Elephant's Child, 'but could you kindly
tell me what he has for dinner?'

Then the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake uncoiled himself very
quickly from the rock, and spanked the Elephant's Child with his
scalesome, flailsome tail.

'That is odd,' said the Elephant's Child, 'because my father and
my mother, and my uncle and my aunt, not to mention my other
aunt, the Hippopotamus, and my other uncle, the Baboon, have all
spanked me for my 'satiable curtiosity--and I suppose this is the
same thing.

So he said good-bye very politely to the
Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake, and helped to coil him up on the
rock again, and went on, a little warm, but not at all
astonished, eating melons, and throwing the rind about, because
he could not pick it up, till he trod on what he thought was a
log of wood at the very edge of the great grey-green, greasy
Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees.

But it was really the Crocodile, O Best Beloved, and the
Crocodile winked one eye--like this!

''Scuse me,' said the Elephant's Child most politely, 'but do you
happen to have seen a Crocodile in these promiscuous parts?'

Then the Crocodile winked the other eye, and lifted half his tail
out of the mud; and the Elephant's Child stepped back most
politely, because he did not wish to be spanked again.

'Come hither, Little One,' said the Crocodile. 'Why do you ask
such things?'

''Scuse me,' said the Elephant's Child most politely, 'but my
father has spanked me, my mother has spanked me, not to mention
my tall aunt, the Ostrich, and my tall uncle, the Giraffe, who
can kick ever so hard, as well as my broad aunt, the
Hippopotamus, and my hairy uncle, the Baboon, and including the
Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake, with the scalesome, flailsome
tail, just up the bank, who spanks harder than any of them; and
so, if it's quite all the same to you, I don't want to be spanked
any more.'

'Come hither, Little One,' said the Crocodile, 'for I am the
Crocodile,' and he wept crocodile-tears to show it was quite
true.

Then the Elephant's Child grew all breathless, and panted, and
kneeled down on the bank and said, 'You are the very person I
have been looking for all these long days. Will you please tell
me what you have for dinner?'

'Come hither, Little One,' said the Crocodile, 'and I'll
whisper.'

Then the Elephant's Child put his head down close to the
Crocodile's musky, tusky mouth, and the Crocodile caught him by
his little nose, which up to that very week, day, hour, and
minute, had been no bigger than a boot, though much more useful.

'I think, said the Crocodile--and he said it between his teeth,
like this--'I think to-day I will begin with Elephant's Child!'

At this, O Best Beloved, the Elephant's Child was much annoyed,
and he said, speaking through his nose, like this, 'Led go! You
are hurtig be!'

Then the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake scuffled down from the
bank and said, 'My young friend, if you do not now, immediately
and instantly, pull as hard as ever you can, it is my opinion
that your acquaintance in the large-pattern leather ulster' (and
by this he meant the Crocodile) 'will jerk you into yonder limpid
stream before you can say Jack Robinson.'

This is the way Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakes always talk.

Then the Elephant's Child sat back on his little haunches, and
pulled, and pulled, and pulled, and his nose began to stretch.
And the Crocodile floundered into the water, making it all creamy
with great sweeps of his tail, and he pulled, and pulled, and
pulled.

And the Elephant's Child's nose kept on stretching; and the
Elephant's Child spread all his little four legs and pulled, and
pulled, and pulled, and his nose kept on stretching; and
the Crocodile threshed his tail like an oar, and he pulled, and
pulled, and pulled, and at each pull the Elephant's Child's nose
grew longer and longer--and it hurt him hijjus!

Then the Elephant's Child felt his legs slipping, and he said
through his nose, which was now nearly five feet long, 'This is
too butch for be!'

Then the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake came down from the bank,
and knotted himself in a double-clove-hitch round the Elephant's
Child's hind legs, and said, 'Rash and inexperienced traveller,
we will now seriously devote ourselves to a little high tension,
because if we do not, it is my impression that yonder
self-propelling man-of-war with the armour-plated upper deck'
(and by this, O Best Beloved, he meant the Crocodile), 'will
permanently vitiate your future career.

That is the way all Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakes always talk.

So he pulled, and the Elephant's Child pulled, and the Crocodile
pulled; but the Elephant's Child and the
Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake pulled hardest; and at last the
Crocodile let go of the Elephant's Child's nose with a plop that
you could hear all up and down the Limpopo.

Then the Elephant's Child sat down most hard and sudden; but
first he was careful to say 'Thank you' to the
Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake; and next he was kind to his poor
pulled nose, and wrapped it all up in cool banana
leaves, and hung it in the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo to
cool.

'What are you doing that for?' said the
Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.

''Scuse me,' said the Elephant's Child, 'but my nose is badly out
of shape, and I am waiting for it to shrink.

'Then you will have to wait a long time, said the
Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake. 'Some people do not know what is
good for them.'

The Elephant's Child sat there for three days waiting for his
nose to shrink. But it never grew any shorter, and, besides, it
made him squint. For, O Best Beloved, you will see and
understand that the Crocodile had pulled it out into a really
truly trunk same as all Elephants have to-day.

At the end of the third day a fly came and stung him on the
shoulder, and before he knew what he was doing he lifted up his
trunk and hit that fly dead with the end of it.

''Vantage number one!' said the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.
'You couldn't have done that with a mere-smear nose. Try and eat
a little now.'

Before he thought what he was doing the Elephant's Child put out
his trunk and plucked a large bundle of grass, dusted it clean
against his fore-legs, and stuffed it into his own mouth.

'Vantage number two!' said the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.
'You couldn't have done that with a mear-smear nose. Don't you
think the sun is very hot here?'

'It is,' said the Elephant's Child, and before he thought what he
was doing he schlooped up a schloop of mud from the banks of the
great grey-green, greasy Limpopo, and slapped it on his head,
where it made a cool schloopy-sloshy mud-cap all trickly behind
his ears.

'Vantage number three!' said the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.
'You couldn't have done that with a mere-smear nose. Now how do
you feel about being spanked again?'

''Scuse me,' said the Elephant's Child, 'but I should not like it
at all.'

'How would you like to spank somebody?' said the Bi-
Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake.

'I should like it very much indeed,' said the Elephant's Child.

'Well,' said the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake, 'you will find
that new nose of yours very useful to spank people with.'

'Thank you,' said the Elephant's Child, 'I'll remember that; and
now I think I'll go home to all my dear families and try.'

So the Elephant's Child went home across Africa frisking and
whisking his trunk. When he wanted fruit to eat he pulled fruit
down from a tree, instead of waiting for it to fall as he used to
do. When he wanted grass he plucked grass up from the ground,
instead of going on his knees as he used to do. When the flies
bit him he broke off the branch of a tree and used it as
fly-whisk; and he made himself a new, cool, slushy-squshy mud-cap
whenever the sun was hot. When he felt lonely walking through
Africa he sang to himself down his trunk, and the noise was
louder than several brass bands.

He went especially out of his way to find a broad Hippopotamus
(she was no relation of his), and he spanked her very hard, to
make sure that the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake had spoken the
truth about his new trunk. The rest of the time he picked up the
melon rinds that he had dropped on his way to the
Limpopo--for he was a Tidy Pachyderm.

One dark evening he came back to all his dear families, and he
coiled up his trunk and said, 'How do you do?' They were very
glad to see him, and immediately said, 'Come here and be spanked
for your 'satiable curtiosity.'

'Pooh,' said the Elephant's Child. 'I don't think you peoples
know anything about spanking; but I do, and I'll show you.' Then
he uncurled his trunk and knocked two of his dear brothers head
over heels.

'O Bananas!' said they, 'where did you learn that trick, and what
have you done to your nose?'

'I got a new one from the Crocodile on the banks of the great
grey-green, greasy Limpopo River,' said the Elephant's Child. 'I
asked him what he had for dinner, and he gave me this to keep.'

'It looks very ugly,' said his hairy uncle, the Baboon.

'It does,' said the Elephant's Child. 'But it's very useful,' and
he picked up his hairy uncle, the Baboon, by one hairy leg
hove him into a hornet's nest.

Then that bad Elephant's Child spanked all his dear families for
a long time, till they were very warm and greatly astonished. He
pulled out his tall Ostrich aunt's tail-feathers; and he caught
his tall uncle, the Giraffe, by the hind-leg, and dragged him
through a thorn-bush; and he shouted at his broad aunt, the
Hippopotamus, and blew bubbles into her ear when she was sleeping
in the water after meals; but he never let any one touch Kolokolo
Bird.

At last things grew so exciting that his dear families went off
one by one in a hurry to the banks of the great grey-green,
greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, to borrow
new noses from the Crocodile. When they came back nobody spanked
anybody any more; and ever since that day, O Best Beloved, all
the Elephants you will ever see, besides all those that you
won't, have trunks precisely like the trunk of the 'satiable
Elephant's Child.

I Keep six honest serving-men:
(They taught me all I knew)
Their names are What and Where and When
And How and Why and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.

I let them rest from nine till five.
For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men:
But different folk have different views:
I know a person small--
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!
She sends 'em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes--
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!