29S 
Elephant-hunting. 
Since the first edition of this work was published, I have been 
favoured with some curious information in regard to this species 
of animals which must prove very interesting to the natural 
historian. No satisfactory account has yet been given of the 
manner in which the elephant copulates ; and from the diffi- 
culty of procuring information from eye-witnesses on this sub- 
ject, it has been inferred that elephants are the chastest and 
coyest of all animals, and that they never copulate before their 
own race, and .far less when observed by men. So little is 
known concerning this circumstance even in Ceylon, that I 
have myself heard there averred, what naturalists have de- 
duced from the conformation of the parts, marem et fceniinam 
retro coire, nee marem in dorsum fcemince assilire, fceniinam^ 
que locum declivem petere, quo facilius opus coeundi pcrjiciatur. 
I have it now in my power to put these points beyond all 
dispute by the relation of an eye-witness whose testimony 
can admit of no doubt. 
In an elephant-hunt which took place near Nigumbo, a num- 
ber of these animals were driven into the inclosure prepared 
for the purpose, and were there left for some time, till hun- 
ger should partly subdue their ferocity. Lieutenant Richard 
Young observing the close attendance of a male on one of the 
females, and the demonstrations he gave of an inclination to- 
wards her, determined to remain with some Cinglese peasants 
and watch them. Elapsis duahus Jioris, marem in dorsum 
fmmince assilire vidit, quemadmodum equus in coitu solet. Ad~ 
misit eum Jcemina libenter et sine pudore, tametsi alii plures 
adstiterunt elephantes, et vix fieri potuit, quin homines illam 
intuentes, ah ilia vicissim conspicerenfur. Adstahant per totum 
iempus duo parvuli elephantes, qni hide operi ahsolvendo suuni 
R 
