YOL. LXXXIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 511 



teeth; and the grinders are so much alike in males and females, that one description 

 will serve for both. The largest tusks, from which the best ivory is supplied, are, 

 taken from that species of male named dauntelah*, in consequence of his large 

 tusks, and whose countenance, from this circumstance, is the most opposite in 

 appearance, to that of the mooknah; which, as before observed, is hardly to be 

 distinguished, by his head, from a female elephant. Though there is a material 

 difference in the appearance of a mooknah and a dauntelah, as well as in the value 

 of the tusks, yet, if they are of the same cast, size, and disposition, and perfect, 

 that is, free from any defect or blemish, there is scarcely any difference in their 

 price. 



An elephant is said to be perfect, when his ears are large and rounded, not ragged, 

 or indented at the margin; his eyes of a dark hazle colour, free from specks; the 

 roof of his mouth, and his tongue, without dark or black spots of any consider- 

 able size; his trunk large, and his tail long, with a tuft of hair reaching nearly to 

 the ground. There must be 5 nails on each of his fore-feet, and 4 on each of 

 the hind ones; his head well set on, and carried rather high. The arch or curve 

 of his back rising gradually from the shoulder to the middle, and thence descend- 

 ing to the insertion of the tail; and all his joints firm and strong. There are 

 several other points, of less consequence, which are noticed by the natives as well 

 as Europeans. The dauntelah is generally more daring, and less manageable, than 

 the mooknah ; for this reason, till the temper and disposition of the two species 

 are ascertained, Europeans will prefer the mooknah; but the natives, who are 

 fond of show, generally take their chance, and prefer the dauntelah; which, when 

 known to be of a mild and gentle disposition, will always be preferred, both by 

 Europeans and natives. 



The varieties between the mooknah and dauntelah are considerable, and for 

 these there are appropriate names, according as the form of the tusks varies from 

 the projecting horizontal, but rather elevated, curve of the pullung daunt -f~ of the 

 perfect dauntelah, to the nearly straight tusks of the mooknah, which point directly 

 downwards. When a dauntelah has never had but 1 tusk, and this of the pullung 

 sort, he is said to be a goneish or ganesa J, and will sell to the Hindoo princes for 

 a very high price, to be kept in state, and worshipped as a divinity. I have seen 

 elephants apparently of this kind; but when accurately examined, the tusk wanting 

 appeared to me to have been lost by accident, so that I cannot say I ever saw a 

 male which had originally only 1 tusk. 



A 2d variety of the dauntelah is, when the large tusks point downwards, pro- 

 jecting only a little way beyond the trunk; he is then said to have soor or choor 



* Dauntelah signifies toothy ; having large or fine teeth. f Pullung signifies a bed or cot, and 



daunt, teeth ; and, from the tusks projecting so regularly, and being a little curved and elevated at the 



extremities, the natives suppose a man might he on them at his ease, as on a bed \ Ganesa is the 



name of the Hindoo god of wisdom, who is represented witii a head like an elephant's, with only 1 

 tooth. See Asiatic Researches, vol. 1, art. On the Gods of Greece, Italy, and India. — Orig. 



