Natural History of the Elephant. 55 
joined. Having never before known any elephant killed wil- 
fully, in the keddah , by the larger males, and having no idea 
that he would commit such terrible havock, I unluckily refused 
to grant their request, being desirous to save so stately an ele- 
phant. When the palisade was finished, I got him tied, and 
led out ; but, not brooking restraint, he languished about forty 
days, after he was secured, and then died. 
In the course of this narrative, I have, in general, related 
only such particulars concerning the elephant as came within 
my own knowledge, and which were either not known, or not 
published. To enter into a particular history of the ele- 
phant was not my intention ; and, although the procreation of 
tame elephants has been proved, yet the expence incurred by 
breeding them, may deter others from making attempts of this 
kind. But it opens a field of curious inquiry to the naturalist ; 
and, now that the facility with which it may be done is ascer- 
tained, it suggests itself as a mode by which the breed of ele- 
phants may be improved, in size, strength, and activity. In 
this way, any expence which might be incurred, would more 
than repay itself, in the future benefits to be derived from a 
superior breed of elephants. 
are much larger, and stronger, than the males generally taken with the herd, it is not 
probable they would submit to be driven from it, unless at an early period. I have 
seldom seen, in a herd of elephants, a male so large as may be commonly met with 
among two or three goondabs ; but, if these last were driven from the herd when 
young, the very reverse would be observed. 
