54 
Mr. Corse’s Observations on the 
On the 3d of April, 1 795, a very fine male elephant covered 
a female twice, in the midst of the herd, and before all the 
hunters. On the 4th, I saw him attempting to cover a third 
time, when he was suddenly disturbed, bv the noise the 
hunters made to drive away some of the herd which had come 
too near the palisade. In consequence of this interruption, he 
threw down first one and then another small elephant, and 
gored them terribly with his tusks, though they came between 
him and the female only for their protection : he had, before 
this, killed four, and wounded many others. When the poor 
animals were thrown down, conscious of their impending fate, 
they roared most piteously; but, notwithstanding their pro- 
strate situation, and submissive cries, he unfeelingly and deli- 
berately drove his tusks through, and transfixed them to the 
ground : yet none of the large elephants, not even the dams 
of the sufferers, came near to relieve them, or seemed to be 
sensibly affected. This savage animal had been then confined 
four days in the inclosure, along with the herd, upon a very 
scanty allowance of food, and could have but very little hope 
of escaping; yet here his passions were stronger than his fears. 
It was on account of this savage disposition, the hunters had 
asked permission to shoot him, before I had either seen him or 
the herd, and thence judged he was a goondah* that had lately 
* From this instance, as well as many concurring circumstances, I am convinced 
that these goondabs generally leave the herd of their own accord, and join it when 
they think proper, or are induced to it from a female being in heat ; yet it has been 
supposed, that they are driven from the herd, at an early period of life, by their 
seniors. This appears improbable, as it is not often that very large males are taken 
with a herd of elephants ; for, depending on their own strength, they stray singly, or 
in small parties, from the woods into the plains, and even to the villages; and it is in 
these excursions they are taken, by means of the trained females. As these goondabs 
