Lesson 41 Training elephants

The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job.

馴象中至關重要的是指派一名專門的馴象員，全面負責這項工作。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do,

大象和狗一樣，喜歡有一個專一的主人，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection.

而且會對主人產生相當深厚的私人感情。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer.

訓練了一半的小象，由于不可避免的情況與他們的主人分離后，竟拒絕吃食，消瘦至死。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt,

這種極端的事例雖不可全信，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training.

但強調了一項基本原則，象和馴象員之間的關系是馴象成功與否的關鍵。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between fifteen and twenty years,

捕捉15至20歲之間年齡的大象進行馴練最為經濟。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away.

這個年齡的象差不多已能干重活，可以很快掙回飼養它的開支。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

But animals of this age do not easily become subservient to man,

但這個年齡的象不易馴服，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages.

因此開始階段需要有一位強有力的老手。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

The captive elephant, still roped to a tree,

捕來拴在樹上的大象，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

plunges and screams every time a man approaches,

每當有人走近它時，就會向前猛沖并發出尖叫，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear.

甚至一連幾天由于憤怒和恐懼而拒絕進食。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence,

有時，把一頭已馴服的象拴在旁邊能給野象以信心。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food.

在大多數情況下，剛捕來的象會慢慢靜下來，接著開始吃食。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment,

下一步就是把象帶到訓練場所，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.

這是一件棘手的事，需要在它兩側拴上兩頭馴服的大象才能完成。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

When several elephants are being trained at one time,

幾只象同時訓練時，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced.

通常是把新到的安置在兩頭訓練得很好的大象的象廄中間，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home

然后給它以充足的食物和水，一定不要驚擾它，以便讓它能適應新居的氣氛，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions.

并且看到自己的同伴身上沒有發生讓自己擔驚受怕的事。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

When it is eating normally, its own training begins.

當它進食正常了，訓練就開始。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point.

馴練員手持一根有鋒利金屬尖頭的長棒，站在象前。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

Two assistants, mounted on tame elephants, control the captive from either side,

兩位助手騎在馴服的象的背上，從兩側控制新捕的象，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

while others rub their hands over his skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant.

其他人唱著單調的歌聲用手撫摸象的皮膚。

Lesson 41 Training elephants

This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant,

據說這是為了使象產生愉快的感覺，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets, such as'ho! my son',

為了加強這種效果，人們給以親切的外號，如嗬！我的孩子、

Lesson 41 Training elephants

or'ho! my father', or'my mother', according to the age and sex of the captive.

嗬！我的爸爸、"嗬！我的媽媽通過按象的年齡性別，

Lesson 41 Training elephants

The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments, however,

然而大象不會立刻被這些討好的話感動，而

Lesson 41 Training elephants

and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions.

往往是用鼻子朝各個方向猛烈地甩動。