mk631,

As I understand it, the "rental" portage-monkeys ride on the oliphaunt's back when they return for the 2nd load.  It's a sight to behold, with them hanging on to the antlers & all that.  

Speaking of beholding, we are all beholding to Dr. Samuel Gamgee for his successful cross-breeding & creation of the oliphaunt species from the female moose and the male elephant.  Interestingly enough, it was his father, Dr. Gaffer Gamgee, a noted ichthyologist at Baylor University, that did something similar, decades ago, with the male Muskie & female Northern Pike... producing the Tiger Muskie, now so widespread in the USA.

Those oliphaunts are terribly formidable-looking creatures.  I'm sure glad they have become domesticated.  I wasn't aware they had started using them near Fern in the Q again, though.

Jimbo   8)