Natural History of the Elephant . 41 
At length, an old hunter, coming up and examining him nar- 
rowly, declared he was the very elephant that had made his 
escape about eighteen months before. 
Confident of this, he boldly rode up to him, on a tame ele- 
phant, and ordered him to lie down, pulling him by the ear at 
the same time. The animal seemed quite taken by surprise, 
and instantly obeyed the word of command, with as much 
quickness as the ropes, with which he was tied, permitted; 
uttering, at the same time, a peculiar shrill squeak through his 
trunk, as he had formerly been known to do; by which he was 
immediately recognized, by every person who had ever been 
acquainted with this peculiarity. 
Thus we see that this elephant, for the space of eight or ten 
days, during which he was in the keddah, and even while he 
was tying in the outlet, appeared equally wild and fierce as the 
boldest elephant then taken; so that he was not even suspected 
of having been formerly taken, till he was conducted from the 
outlet. The moment, however, he was addressed in a com- 
manding tone, the recollection of his former obedience seemed 
to rush upon him at once ; and, without any difficulty, he per- 
mitted a driver to be seated on his neck, who, in a few days, 
made him as tractable as ever. 
These, and several other instances which have occurred, 
clearly evince, that elephants have not the sagacity to avoid a 
snare into which they have, even more than once, fallen. 
The general idea, that tame elephants would not breed, has 
doubtless prevented trials being made, to ascertain whether, 
under particular circumstances, this supposed reluctance could 
be got the better of. 
I was however convinced, from observation, as well as from 
MDCCXCIXo G 
