jo6 Natural H'ljiorj of the Elephant. 



been domefticated for many years, when his pafEons were excited, and recoHe£ting alfo, 

 that a wild elephant had covered a female, in February, 1778, before many fj)e£tators, juft 

 after the herd had been fecured in the inclofure, I was affured in my own mind, liat it. was 

 not from any fenfe of modefty, either wild or tame elephants did not gratify their paflions in 

 public; but no opportunity offered of profecuting this inquiry, till 1792. Having then 

 taken upon myfelf the management of the elephant hunters, a very fine male was caught in 

 November : he was both young and handfome, and alfo of a moft docile difpofition ; I there- 

 fore promifed his driver a confiderable gratuity, if he would get him into high order, fo that 

 I mit^ht have an opportunity of bringing his procreative powers to trial, with a tame female. 



In the month of Pvlarch, 1793, the driver of a favourite female elephant informed me, 

 that (he had then figns of being in heat ; and that, if the male and fhe were kept together, 

 and highly fed, an intimacy would probably foon take place. They were therefore, fhortly 

 after this, brought near to Comillah, where a fpacious ihed was ereded for their accommo- 

 dation. 



In the davj they went out together, to feed ; they alfo brought home a load of fuch fuccu- 

 lent food as their drivers and attendants could colleft. After their return, they flood toge- 

 ther, flept * near each other, and every opportunity was granted them to form a mutual at- 

 tachment. In the evening, they had each from ten to twelve pounds of rice foaked in water, 

 to which a little fait was added ; and, from the middle of May till the latter end of June, 

 fome warm flimulants, fuch as onions, garlic, turmeric, and ginger, were added to their 

 ufual allowance of rice. Long before this, however, a partiality had taken place, as was 

 evident from their mutual endearments, and careffing each other with their trunks; and this 

 without ceremony, before a number of other elephants, as well as their attendants. 



Near the end of June, I was fatisfied the male would not, even to regain his freedom, 

 quit the objeft of his regard ; I therefore ordered the keepers to picket the female, by one of 

 her fore-legs only, in the houfe where they ftood, but to leave the male at full liberty. 

 Fearful, however, of hurting their fuppofed delicacy, and thinking the nearnefs and fight of 

 the attendants might poflibly give umbrage to their modefty, I defired them to remain quiet 

 in a little hut, eredted on the outfide of the building appropriated to the elephants, where 

 they could fee equally well as if nearer. 



On the evening of the 28ch of June, 1793, the male was let loofe from his pickets ; and, 

 foon after, he covered the female without any difficulty, although before this fhe never could 

 have received the male, being taken when very young, about five years and a half prior to 

 this period. The male was then led quietly to his flail ; but, early on the morning of the 

 S9th, be became fo troublefbme, that the drivers, in order, as they faid, to quiet him, but 



• It !s always a good fign, when an elephant lies down to fleep, within a few months after he is- taken ; as 

 it fhews him to be of a good temper, not fufpicious, but reconciled to hs fate. Elephants, particularly goon~ 

 dabs, have been known to ftand twelve months at their pickets, without lying down to flecp y though they 

 fiincttities tak« a (host nag (landiag, 



partly^. 



