PROPAGATION OP THE SPECIES. 285 



hundreds of elephants in India, sets this matter at 

 rest. He says : 



" Having mentioned a sufficient number of in- 

 stances to prove the ability as well as the inclina- 

 tion of the elephant to propagate his species in a 

 domestic state, and that without any signs of 

 modesty, and having ascertained the period of 

 gestation to be twenty months and eighteen days, 

 it may be necessary to observe that it is a difficult 

 matter to bring a male, who has been captured 

 in the prime of life, into good condition to act as 

 a stallion ; for being naturally bolder, and of a 

 more ungovernable disposition than the female, he 

 is not, in general, easily trained till reduced very 

 low ; and it requires considerable time, as well as 

 much expense and attention, before he can be 

 brought into such high order as is requisite. He 

 must also be of a gentle temper, and disposed to 

 put confidence in his keeper ; as he will not readily 

 have connection with a female, whilst under the 

 influence of fear or distrust. Of this I have seen 

 many instances nor do I recollect one male ele- 

 phant in ten, which had been taken after attaining 

 its full growth, much inclined to intimacy witli the 

 other sex. This is a most convincing proof that 

 those males which are captured early in life, and 

 have been domesticated for many years, more 

 readily procreate their species than elephants taken 

 at a later period." 



