THE GIRAFFE. 227 



passage of twenty-four days in very tempestuous weather, and on 

 reaching Malta, in November, they were detained in quarantine 

 twenty-five days more; but despite all these difficulties they 

 reached England in safety, and on the 25th of May were con- 

 ducted to the gardens. At daybreak the keepers and several 

 gentlemen of scientific distinction arrived at the Brunswick wharf, 

 and the animals were handed over to them. The distance to the 

 gardens was not less than six miles, and some curiosity, not 

 unmingled with anxiety, was felt as to how this would be accom- 

 plished. Each giraffe was led between two keepers by means of 

 long reins attached to the head ; the animals walked along at a 

 rapid pace, generally in advance of their conductors, but were 

 perfectly tractable. It being so early in the morning few persons 

 were about, but the astonishment of those who did behold the 

 unlooked-for procession was ludicrous in the extreme. As the 

 giraffes stalked by, followed by M. Thibaut and others in Eastern 

 costume, the worthy pohcemen and early coffee-sellers stared with 

 astonishment, and a few revellers, whose reeling steps proclaimed 

 their dissipation, evidently doubted whether the strange figures 

 they beheld were real flesh and bone, or fictions conjured up by 

 their potations ; their gaze of stupid wonder indicating that of the 

 two they were inclined to the latter opinion. 



" "When the giraff'es entered the park, and first caught sight of 

 the green trees, they became excited, and hauled upon the reins, 

 waving the head and neck from side to side, with an occasional 

 caracole and kick-out of the hind-legs, but M. Thibaut contrived 

 to coax them along with pieces 6f sugar, of which they were very 

 fond,; and he had the satisfaction of depositing his valuable 

 charges without accident or misadventure in the sanded paddock 

 prepared for their reception. The sum agreed on with M. Thibaut 

 was 250Z. for the first giraffe he obtained, 200Z. for the second, 

 150Z. for the third, and 1001. for the fourth— in all 7001; 

 but the actual cost to the Society amounted to no less than 

 2386Z. 3s. id., in consequence of the heavy expenses of freight, 

 conveya.nce, &c." 



These animals soon became accHmatized. One of the males 

 died shortly after its arrival, but the others bore their confinement 



Q 2 



