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Elephant assisting to lay down water-pipes near Kandy, in Ceylon, 1856. Creator: Unknown
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Elephant assisting to lay down water-pipes near Kandy, in Ceylon, 1856. Creator: Unknown
Elephant assisting to lay down water-pipes near Kandy, in Ceylon, 1856. View of...the great waterworks at present in course of erection upon Messrs. Morton and Tytler's Rajawelle estate...the cast-iron piping, extending to a length of nearly two miles (each length of pipe weighing about six hundredweight), has to be carried to the position it has to occupy, across logs of felled timber, over rocky and broken ground, up hills, and across ravines, where cart-roads could not be made, nor the feeble native Cooly possibly carry them. In this dilemma the energetic local engineer, Mr. John Brown...had recourse to elephants. [Here we see]...how the pipes are taken up upon the tusks and trunk by the elephant. By this means the piping will be laid at a moderate cost; though the elephants, from never having been trained, may not be able to screw the pieces together'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856
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Media ID 36319538
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Building Site Ceylon Ceylonese Civil Engineering Construction Site Controversial Controversy Elephant Engineering Hookah Huqqa Huqqa Pipe Indian Elephant Lifting Mahout Nargilah Pipe Skill Skilled Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Strength Strong Tobacco Pipe Trunk Tusk Tusks Water Pipe
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph, captured in 1856, depicts an elephant lending a helping hand in the construction of waterworks near Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The scene unfolds at Messrs. Morton and Tytler's Rajawelle estate, where the great waterworks were underway. The cast-iron piping, spanning nearly two miles, posed a significant challenge due to the rugged terrain and inaccessible areas. Each length of pipe weighed approximately six hundredweight, making it an arduous task to transport them to their designated positions. The ingenious local engineer, Mr. John Brown, faced this dilemma head-on. With cart-roads impossible to build and native labor insufficient, he turned to the powerful and agile elephants. In the image, we witness the elephant expertly lifting the pipes onto its tusks and trunk, a testament to the resourcefulness and innovation of the time. The use of elephants proved to be a cost-effective solution, despite their lack of training in screwing the pieces together. This photograph offers a unique glimpse into the engineering marvels of the colonial era, showcasing the determination and ingenuity required to overcome the challenges of constructing essential infrastructure in difficult terrains.
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