456 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 17 QQ. 



a gentle temper, and disposed to put confidence in his keeper; for he will not 

 readily have connexion with a female, while under the influence of fear or distrust. 

 Of this I have seen many instances; nor do I recollect one male elephant in ten 

 which had been taken after having attained his full growth, much disposed to have 

 connexion with a female. This is a most convincing proof, that those males which 

 are taken early in life, and have been domesticated for many years, more readily 

 procreate their species than elephants taken at a later period. In their wild state 

 however they show no reluctance; for, besides all the males that are entrapped, 

 from their desire to have connexion with the trained females which, though not in 

 heat, are carried out to seduce them, several instances have occurred, of wild ele- 

 phants covering, immediately after being taken, in the keddah. 



On the 3d of April, 17 Qo, a very fine male elephant covered a "female twice, in 

 the midst of the herd, and before all the hunters. On the 4th, I saw him at- 

 tempting to cover a third time, when he was suddenly disturbed, by the noise the 

 hunters made to drive away some of the herd which had come too near the palisade. 

 In consequence of this interruption, he threw down first 1 and then another small 

 elephant, and gored them terribly with his tusks, though they came between him 

 and the female only for their protection: he had, before this, killed 4, and wounded 

 many others. When the poor animals were thrown down, conscious of their im- 

 pending fate, they roared most piteously ; but notwithstanding their prostrate situa- 

 tion, and submissive cries, he unfeelingly and deliberately drove his tusks through, 

 and transfixed them to the ground; yet none of the large elephants, not even the 

 dams of the sufferers, came near to relieve them, or seemed to be sensibly affected. 

 This savage animal had been then confined 4 days iu the inclosure, along with the 

 herd, on a very scanty allowance of food, and could have but very little hope of 

 escaping; yet here his passions were stronger than his fears. It was on account of 

 this savage disposition that the hunters had asked permission to shoot him, before I 

 had either seen him or the herd, and thence judged he was a goondah *, that had 

 lately joined. Having never before known any elephant killed willingly, in the 

 keddah, by the larger males, and having no idea that he would commit such ter- 

 rible havock, I unluckily refused to grant their request, being desirous to save so 

 stately an elephant. When the palisade was finished, I got him tied, and led out; 



* From this instance, as well as many concurring circumstances, I am convinced that these goondahs 

 generally leave the herd of their own accord, and join it when they think proper, or are induced to it 

 from a female being in heat ; yet it has been supposed, that they are driven from the herd, at an early 

 period of life, by their seniors This appears improbable, as it is not often that very large males are 

 taken with a herd of elephants ; for, depending on their own strength, they stray singly, or in small 

 parties, from the woods into the plains, and even to the villages; and it is in these excursions they are 

 taken, by means of the trained females. As these goondahs are much larger, and stronger, than the 

 males generally taken with the herd, it is not probable they would submit to be driven from it, unless 

 at an early period. I have seldom seen, in a herd of elephants, a male so large as may be commonly 

 met with among two or thee goondahs ; but if these last were driven from the herd when young, the 

 very reverse would be observed. — Orig. 



