246 THE ETHIOPIAN, OR 



Having left him alone for a few moments, I 

 found him, on my return, bufy in digging the 

 earth, where, notwithftanding the pavement 

 was made of fmall bricks well cemented, he 

 had already made a hole of an incredible fize, 

 with a view, as we afterwards difcovered, to 

 reach a common fewer which paffed below at a 

 great depth. I caufed his labour to be inter- 

 rupted ; and it was not without much trouble, 

 and the afliftance of feveral men, that we could 

 overcome his refillance, and make him return 

 to his cage. His refentment was expreffed by 

 (harp and mournful cries. He feems to have 

 been taken in the African woods when he was 

 very young ; for he has grown confiderably 1 

 fmce his arrival in Europe, and is ftill alive 

 {1767). He paffed the laft winter very well, 

 though the froft was fevere, and he was con- 

 fined during the greatefl: part of that fealbn. 

 ' In agility, he exceeds the hogs of this coun- 

 try. He freely allows himfelf to be ftroaked 

 with the hand, and even with a flick. He feems 

 to be pleafed with rough fridion ; for it was 

 by this means that we made him remain quiet 

 when the painter drew his pidure. When 

 provoked or rudely puflied, he retires back- 

 ward, always facing the affailant, and fliaking 

 or ftriking forcibly with his head. When let 

 loofe after long confinement, he is very gay, 

 leaps, and purfues fallow-deer, and other ani- 

 mals. On theie occafions, he ertds his tail, 



' which 



