266 TRAVELS IN 
recalled all my people, and we returned to our 
camp. I had indeed been ftruck with the 
reddifh colour of thefe animals ; and I found 
this phenomenon extraordinary : but having 
remarked that the ground upon which v^^e then 
were had almoft the fame tint; and refleding 
that the elephant is fond of wallowing in moift 
and marfliy places, and even fpends a part of 
its time in this manner, I doubted whether 
this colour could be owing to any other caufe, 
and whether it was not purely factitious. 
Next morning,however,Iwas better convin- 
ced, when, on returning to the wood with my 
people, I found the elephant dead. Every body 
was perfuaded that our neighbours were de- 
ceived ; and though they had mentioned that It 
was dangerous to eat of this fpecies, they cut 
off the trunk for me, and referved for themfelves 
the other parts of the animal. I afterwards met 
ieveral planters, who believed alfo that there 
were red elephants; and whatever pains I took 
to free them from their error, I could not 
convince them ; fo much were they prejudiced 
in favour of their own opinion. 
The one I killed, which was a female, was 
nine feet three inches in height : one of its 
tuflvs weighed thirteen pounds, and th^ other 
ten. 
