The quotations for this week (Novermber 18th to 24th) are as follows:
1. The twelve Government elephants rocked at their pickets outside the big
mud-walled stables (one arch, as wide as a bridge-arch, to each restless
beast), and the mahouts were preparing the evening meal. Now and again some
impatient youngster would smell the cooking flour-cakes, and squeal; and the
naked little children of the elephant-lines would strut down the row,
shouting or commanding silence . The sunset was dying, and the elephants
heaved and swayed dead black against the one sheet of rose-red low down in
the dusty gray sky.
2. The huge limbs moved as steadily as pistons, eight feet to each stride,
and the wrinkled skin of the elbow-points rustled. The undergrowth on either
side of him ripped with a noise like torn canvas, and the saplings that he
heaved away right and left with his shoulders sprang back again and banged
him on the flank, and great trails of creepers, all matted together, hung
from his tusks as he threw his head from side to side and ploughed out his
pathway.
3. ...Hathi had been plucking off the roofs of the huts as you pluck
water-lilies, and a rebounding beam had pricked him. He needed only this to
unchain his full strength, for of all things in the Jungle, the wild
elephant enraged is the most wantonly destructive. He kicked backward at a
mud wall that crumbled at the stroke, and, crumbling, melted to yellow mud
under the torrents of rain. Then he wheeled and squealed, and tore through
the narrow streets, leaning against the huts right and left, shivering the
crazy doors and crumpling up the eaves....
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The sources of last week's quotations (Novermber 11th to 17th) from Max
Rive's translations, were as follows:
1. '. La Mère Gange absorbe de grosses rations.' This is from 'The
Bridge-builders' in 'The Day's Work.
2. 'Les officiers parlaient à leurs hommes dans un langage que deux cents
blancs à peine comprenaient en Inde.' This is from 'The Tomb of his Ancestor
s' in 'The Day's Work'
3. ' .il allongea ses mains crochues vers une pièce d'argenterie en face de
lui et il la caressa avec amour.' This is from 'The Man who Was' in 'Life's
Handicap'.
Good wishes to all, John R
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