c. 1780

A Prince Restrains a Rampaging Elephant

From early in Indian history, elephant training was considered a science and entire books were written on the subject. Elephant combats of various sorts were a popular sport among Indian rulers. Elephants, however, have a tendency to become enraged if hurt, startled, or during breeding times and this elephant has clearly run amok. Nothing deters him: not the pointed goad wielded by his princely rider, nor the whirling firecrackers of his keepers, nor the whip of a rider whose black horse shies from the enraged beast.