44 
Mr. Corse’s Observations on the 
not gratify their passions in public ; but no opportunity offered 
of prosecuting this inquiry, till 1792. Having then taken 
upon myself the management of the elephant hunters, a very 
fine male was caught in November : he was both young and 
handsome, and also of a most docile disposition ; I therefore 
promised his driver a considerable gratuity, if he would get 
him into high order, so that I might have an opportunity of 
bringing his procreative powers to trial, with a tame female. 
In the month of March, 1793, the driver of a favourite 
female elephant informed me, that she had then signs of being 
in heat ; and that, if the male and she were kept together, and 
highly fed, an intimacy would probably soon take place. They 
were therefore, shortly after this, brought near to Comillah, 
where a spacious shed was erected for their accommodation. 
In the day, they went out together, to feed; they also brought 
home a load of such succulent food as their drivers and attend- 
ants could collect. After their return, they stood together, slept* 
near each other, and every opportunity was granted them to 
form a mutual attachment. In the evening, they had each from 
ten to twelve pounds of rice soaked in water, to which a little 
salt was added ; and, from the middle of May till the latter end 
of June, some warm stimulants, such as onions, garlic, turme- 
ric, and ginger, were added to their usual allowance of rice. 
Long before this, however, a partiality had taken place, as was 
evident from their mutual endearments, and caressing each 
* It is always a good sign, when an elephant lies down to sleep, within a few months 
after he is taken ; as it shews him to be of a good temper, not suspicious, but recon- 
ciled to his fate. Elephants, particularly goondabs, have been known to stand twelve 
months at their pickets, without lying down to sleep ; though they sometimes take a 
short nap standing. 
