They make a great deal of use of elephants in India.

You know, of course, that India belongs to England.

The title of Queen Victoria is Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and
Empress of India.

England is obliged to keep a great many soldiers in India, and the
elephant has gradually become one of the most important factors in the
Indian army.

When the British first occupied India, the soldiers used the elephants to
work on fortifications, to haul timber, and to do any work that required
great strength.

After a while, as they began to understand the creatures better, the army
officers gave them more important tasks, until at last an elephant
artillery corps was formed.

It is said of the animals in this company that they know as well what to
do as the best artillerymen, and will bring their guns in line with the
precision of old soldiers.

Their duty is to drag the heavy batteries and the guns of the siege-train,
which are extremely large and exceedingly heavy.

The elephants draw them as if they weighed nothing, and march along,
keeping steady pace with the soldiers.