Natural Hijlorj of the Elephant. 197 



^ardy, I fufpeft, to indulge their own curiofity, permitted him to cover her a fecond time ; 

 which he readily did, before the ufual attendants, as well as a number of other fpeflators. 

 After this, the driver brought me a particular account of the whole procefs. Though much 

 pleafed with the fuccefs of the experiment, yet I was rather chagrined he had not given me 

 notice,' that I might have been myfelf an eye-witnefs ; and therefore told him, he fliould not 

 receive the promifed reward, till I had fatisfied myfelf of the faft. 



About two in the afternoon of the fame day, I was defired to repair to the place where 

 the elephants ftood, as the male had been trying to get nearer the female. On this, I pro- 

 ceeded to the fpot, with my friend captain Robert Burke Gregory : when we arrived, I 

 ordered the male to be freed from his fliackles ; and, after fome toying, and a few mutual 

 carefTes, we had the fatisfa-ftion to fee him cover the female. 



When the male mounted, he placed one of his fore-legs on each fide of her fpine, with 

 his feet turned to, and preffing againft, her {boulders, and his trunk over her forehead ; fup- 

 porting himfelf firmly in this fituation, during coition, which he continued nearly the fame 

 time, and in the fame manner, as a horfe with a mare. 



The female remained perfectly ftill, during the coitus. When the male had finifhed, he 

 ftood quietly by her fide, while flie carefled him with her trunk ; and, as they then appeared 

 well pleafed, and gentle as ufual, I went up and patted them both, as I had formerly been 

 accuftomed to do, without the fmalleft apprehenfion. In the evening, they were brought 

 home to be fed ; and, though only a few hours had elapfed fince his laft embrace, the male 

 feemed inclined to make another attempt ; to which I would have confented, to gratify a 

 crowd of people then prefent, had l^not now learned, that he had covered the female in the 

 open plain, about ten in the morning, when going out for food, in fpite of the exertions of 

 the drivers and attendants ; at leaft fo they alleged, in excufe for having permitted it, con- 

 trary to my orders. As he had already covered four times in about fixteen hours, I was 

 afraid a further indulgence might be prejudicial, and therefore would not permit it ; efpecially 

 as Mr. ImhofF, to whom he then belonged, was abfent. That gentleman, however, re- 

 turned t.wo days after : but, when the two elephants were brought together, in order that Mr. 

 ImhofF's curiofity might be indulged with fo novel a fight, the female, being, no longer in 

 heat, was fo uncivil as to give the male a kick in the face, when he was ufing what flie then 

 thought improper liberties ; nor did (he afterwards permit him to cover her, thou oh, whcH 

 ftanding together, they mutually indulged in a few carefles. 



(To be continued.) 



Vol. III. — August 1799. D <i Dfiip- 



