52 
ELK. 
water. Their snow-shoes are made of the skin, and 
they are said even to form canoes of it, by sewing 
it neatly together, and covering the seams with an 
unctuous earth. In these slight vessels will the 
fearless savages embark, and return home, after a 
chase, laden with their spoils. 
The elk if taken young may be esily tamed, 
and will become attached to its master. M. d’Ob- 
sonville procured one in India of ten or twelve 
days old, and kept it about two years without ever 
tying it up. “ I even let it run abroad,” says this 
gentleman, “ and sometimes amused myself with 
making it draw in the yard, or carry little bur- 
thens. I accustomed it to eat any thing : it came 
when called, and I found few signs of impatience, 
except when it was not allowed to remain near me. 
When I departed for the island of Sumatra, I beg- 
ged Mr. Law, of Lawriston, governor-general, who 
had always testified a remarkable degree of esteem 
and friendship for me, to accept it. This gentle- 
man had no opportunity of keeping it about his 
person, as I had done, but sent it to his country- 
house, where it wanted for nothing ; but being 
kept alone, and chained in a confined corner, it 
presently became so furious as not to be approach- 
ed ; insomuch that the person who daily brought 
its food was obliged to leave it at a distance. After 
some months absence, I returned. It knew me 
afar off, and as I observed the efforts it made to get 
at me, I ran to meet it; and I confess I can never 
