Tested His Politeness.

Otago Witness, Issue 2164, 15 August 1895, Page 49

Tested His Politeness.

Elephants are wonderfully intelligent, have good memories, and know how to bo remark" ably polite when they choose. In India it is good elephant manners, bofore receiving food, to ask for it by making a salaam to the giver, as muoh as to say, •' Please give me some." A gentleman who had been in India and knew of tbis habit, -on visiting the zoo onoday, determined to test the politeness of the elephants there. With bun in hand he said to the animal, "Salaam, Kuro"— that is, make a salaam.

The animal, after looking steadily at the visitor for a minute or two, as if thinking, raised his trunk and made him a most correct salaam. The keeper was surprised, being uoaware that in India it was customary for an elephant to raise his trunk up to bis forehead and salaam to anyone likely to feed him. The zoo elephant is bolieyed to bo one oE those which took part in the grand profession, at Agra when the Prince of Wales visitel India, and though for 17 years ho had not he&td the words with which the gentleman addressed him, he recollected what was expected, and in response made the customary salaam.