MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 377 



and administered by their Keepers. Alighting from our Palenkeens, they 

 loosed one which was fourteen feet high, and the Black clawing his P'-U with 

 an Iron Engine, he stooped down for him to get up, and being upon his Back 

 guided him as he listed. His Body is a Symmetrical Deformity (if I may so 

 say) ; the Hanches and Quarters clapt together seem so many heaps ; his Neck 

 short, flapping ears like Scates, little Eyed, a broad face, From which drops his 

 Proboscis or Trunk, thrusting it out, or shriveling it in, as he chuses ; through 

 its hollow he sucks his liquor, and with two Fingers, as it were, reaches the 

 Fodder, shaking off the Dirt against his Thigh, or Vermin, such as Mice, 

 which he abhors, he brings it under to his Mouth, from whence proceed two 

 huge Tusks of Ivory for defence, not Mastication, for which he is supplied 

 within with others ; his Tail is curt ; he shuffles on with a great Pace, moving 

 all the Joints of his Legs, though the Motion of his Hinderlega imitate 

 Human Progression, having a Patella or Knee-pan afore, not articulated 

 behind, as other four-footed Beasts are. When he stands, his Legs appear so 

 many Columns, scolloped at bottom, being flat-hoofed. They are of a Mouse- 

 colour. With their Trunks they strike a violent Blow, and are taught to 

 fling Iron Links, to the destruction of their Enemies. That they draw their 

 weighty Cannon is certain ; but that they engage with smaller on their Backs 

 I am no Eye-witness." Evidently he had been told that they did, but did 

 not believe it. From Machlipatam Fryer sailed to Madras, and gives us a 

 description of the country round about. " The Country is sandy, yet plentiful 

 in Provisions ; in all Places Tops of Trees, among one of which, on the top 

 of a withered stump sat perching a chamelion, clasping with its Claws its 

 rotten Station, filling himself with his Aerial Food ; a Banquet which most 

 other creatures else arise an hungred from. But to be confirmed in the Truth 

 of what we have only by Tradition, I caused a Black, who had a bow there to 

 fell him with an Earthen Pellet, which when he had, after a small time he 

 revived, and making a Collar of Straw for his Neck, he carried him to mj"- 

 lodgings, where I dieted him a Month on the same proviand. That he 

 changes his Colours at a constant time of the Day, is not to be contradicted, 

 but whether he live by the Air alone, I will not stand to it, unless there were a 

 Dearth of Flies in the country ; though for my Part I did not see him eat 

 any. In Shape he comet h nearest a Newt ; with his lungs his Body does 

 agitate its self up to its Neck ; he craw's on all Four, and has a Tail longer 

 than its Body, which all together was no more than half a foot ; he has 

 Teeth, and those sharp, which makes me think him an Anti-beelubian." 



What this long word means is left to his readers to guess. His Black does 

 not seem to have been afraid of the chsmeleon, but in some parts of India the 

 natives consider it dangerous — in what way I do not know. Journeying to 

 Triblitore, four miles north of Madras, Fryer says : " In the Way hither are 

 store of Antelopes, not to be taken, but by a Decoy made of green Boughs, 

 wherein a man hides himself and walking with this Bush upon his back, gains 

 near on them, while grazing or bronzing rather on Shrubs or Bushes, as to hit 



