1-2 8 
ELEPHANT. 
the males with much greater severity than the fe- 
males, to keep them in awe ; but it is too common 
a practice among the mcihotes , either to be negligent 
in using proper measures to render their elephants 
docile, or to trust too much to their good-nature, 
before they are thoroughly acquainted with their 
dispositions. The iron hook with which they di- 
rect them is pretty heavy, about sixteen inches 
long, with a straight spike advancing a little beyond 
the curve of the hook, so that altogether it is exactly 
like that which ferrymen or boatmen use fastened 
to a long pole.” 
A residence of more than ten years in Tiperah, 
a province of Bengal, situated at the eastern ex- 
tremity of the British dominions in Asia, where 
herds of elephants are taken every season, afforded 
Mr. Corse frequent opportunities of observing not 
only the methods of taking them, but also the habits 
and manners of this noble animal. From the year 
1792 till 1797> the elephant hunters were entirely 
under his direction ; therefore the above account 
may be safely relied upon as strictly correct. 
It has been stated, that the sagacity of the ele- 
phant is so great, and his memory so retentive, that 
when once he has received an injury, or been in 
bondage, and afterwards escapes, it is not possible, 
by any art, again to entrap him. The following 
history of an elephant, taken by Mr. Luke, of 
Longford Hall, Shropshire, (then the resident of 
Tiperah,) contains many interesting particulars on 
this subject : 
