THE ELK. 2G1 



Tarne elks. 



Mr. Hearne relates, that an Indian had, at the 

 Factory at Hudson's Bay, in the year 1777, two 

 of these animals so tarne, that when he was on 

 his passage to Prince of Wales's Fort, in a ca- 

 noe, they always followed him along the bank of 

 the river ; and whenever he landed, they gene- 

 rally came and fondled on him, in the same man- 

 ner as the most domestic animal would have 

 done, and never offered to stray from the tents. 

 One day he crossed a deep bay in one of the 

 lakes, in order to save a very circuitous rout 

 along its bank, and expected the creatures would, 

 as usual, follow him round, but unfortunately at 

 night they did not arrive; and as the howling of 

 wolves was heard in the quarter where they were, 

 it is supposed they were unfortunately devoured. 



M. D'Obsonville mentions his having in his 

 possession, while in the East Indies, an animal 

 which appears to luive been of this species. " I 

 procured it," says he, " when only ten or twelve 

 clays old, and had it for about two years, without 

 ever tying it up. I even let it run abroad, and 

 sometimes amused myself with making it draw in 



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the yard, or carry little burthens. It always came 

 when called, and I found few signs of impatience, 

 except, when it was not allowed to remain near 

 me. When I departed from the island of Suma- 

 tra, I gave it to Mr. Law of Lauriston, the go- 

 vernor-general, an intimate friend. This gentle- 

 j not having an opportunity of keeping it 



