178 
TRAVELS IN 
A rifing eminence between the Bosjefman and Kareeka 
rivers, which at this place were not very diftant, commanded 
a beautiful view of the furrounding country, and a great extent 
of fea-coaft. From thefe elevated plains a fudden deprefifion 
of the earth defcends towards the fea-fhore, and particularly be- 
tween the mouths of the two above-mentioned rivers. The 
ground has here been rent and torn into vaft chafms, feparated 
by high ridges of rude and malTy rock. The glens were 
choaked up with thick, tall ftirubbery, and the fmaller kinds of 
the trees of the country. Thefe wild and difmal dens, of many 
miles in extent, were confidered by Renfberg, the perfon before 
mentioned, as the nurfery of elephants, where, he afferted, he 
had once feen in one troop between four and five hundred of 
thefe enormous brutes, fcouring the plains, and making for the 
forefts. 
Several of the perfons with me pretended to have been eye- 
witnefTes to the manner in which elephants performed the con- 
nubial rites ; and they invariably aflerted that the female went 
down on her knees to receive the male, which, however, is not 
the cafe. The manner in which this huge animal contrived to 
propagate the fpecies is a fubjedl that has long engaged the 
clofet-naturalifts of Europe, and which has produced many 
ftrange opinions and hypothefes. Some imagined that the 
feelings of this animal were fo delicate, and others that its fenfe 
of flavery was fo powerful, that fhame in the one inftance, and 
indignation in the other, were impediments to their indulging, 
in a domefticated ftate, in the gratifications of love. Such-like 
hypothefes, founded on falfe fuggeftions of travellers, have of 
late 
