ELEPHANT*. 67 



lie could get -over, the bridge gave way, and they 

 were precipitated into the ditch, which killed the 

 driver, and considerably injured the elephant. It 

 is resasonable to suppose that the elephant must 

 have perceived its feeble state when he last passed 

 over it. It is a well known fact, that elephants 

 will seldom or ever go over strange bridges, with- 

 out first trying with their trunks if they be suffi- 

 ciently strong to bear their weight, nor will 

 they ever go into a boat without doing the same 



I had a remarkably quiet and docile elephant, 

 which one day came home loaded with branches 

 of trees for provender, followed by a number of 

 villagers, calling for mercy, (their usual cry when 

 ill used,) complaining that the Mahout had 

 stolen a kid from them, and that it was then on the 

 elephant, under the branches of the trees. The 

 Mahout took an opportunity of decamping into 

 the village and hiding himself. I ordered the 

 elephant to be unloaded, and was surprised to see 

 that he would not allow any person to come near 

 to him, when at all other times he was perfectly 

 tractable and obedient. Combining all the 

 circumstances, I was convinced that the Mahout 

 was guilty, and to get rid of the noise, I recom- 

 pensed the people for the loss of their kid. As 



