OF CREATION. 309 



the ancient elephant of northern Europe, is too inter- 

 esting to be abridged, without the loss of much of its 

 value as a vivid description of so extraordinary a 

 phenomenon. 



Mr. Adams states, "At this time I found the mam- 

 moth still in the same place, but altogether muti- 

 lated. The prejudices being dissipated in consequence 

 of the Tungusian (who had fallen sick from alarm 

 on first hearing of the discovery, because it was con- 

 sidered a bad omen) having recovered his health, 

 there was no obstacle to prevent approach to the 

 carcase. The proprietor was contented with his pro- 

 fit for the tusks, and the Jakutski of the neighbour- 

 hood had cut off the flesh, with which they fed their 

 dogs ; during the scarcity, wild beasts, such as white 

 bears, wolves, wolverines, and foxes, also fed upon it, 

 and the traces of their footsteps were seen around. 

 The skeleton, almost entirely cleared of its flesh, re- 

 mained whole, with the exception of one fore-leg. 

 The head was covered with a dry skin ; one of the 

 ears, well preserved, was furnished with a tuft of 

 hairs. All these parts have necessarily been injured 

 in transporting them a distance of 7330 miles, (to 

 St. Petersburg!},) but the eyes have been preserved, 

 and the pupil of one can still be distinguished. 



" The mammoth was a male, with a long mane on 

 the neck. The tail and proboscis were not preserved. 

 The skin, of which I possess three-fourths, is of a 

 dark grey colour, covered with reddish wool and 

 black hairs ; but the dampness of the spot, where it 

 had lain so long, had in some degree destroyed the 

 hair. The entire carcase, of which I collected the 

 bones on the spot, was nine feet four inches high and 



