THE ELEPHANT. 
249 
not very speedily accomplished. A party of the 
Foot Guards being procured, fired with ball at 
the poor beast, who received upwards of one 
hundred and fifty shots, and was at length 
dispatched by one of the keepers, who with 
a large harpoon penetrated a vital part. In 
the greatest access of his fury the animal ex- 
hibited a striking instance of docility : for, 
while the bullets were striking him from every 
side, he obeyed the voice of his keeper, who 
ordered him to kneel, in the belief that he 
hiight be the more easily shot in that position. 
The body was upwards of twelve feet in length 
from the forehead to the insertion of the tail, 
and above nineteen in circumference. The 
hide varied in thickness, being generally from 
half an inch to an inch ; but across the back 
it was three inches thick. 
The domestic elephant is generally fed with 
Hce, raw or boiled, and mixed with water. 
To keep him in full vigour he is said to re- 
