PROPAGATION OP THE SPECIES. 
285 
hundreds of elephants in India, sets this matter at 
rest. He says :— 
“ Having mentioned a sufficient number of in- 
stances to prove the ability as well as the inclina- 
n o f the elephant to propagate his species in a 
domestic state, and that without any signs of 
modesty, and having ascertained the period of 
gestation to be twenty months and eighteen days, 
it may be necessary to observe that it is a difficult 
matter to bring a male, who has been captured 
in the prime of life, into good condition to act as 
a stallion; for being naturally bolder, and of a 
more ungovernable disposition than the female, he 
is not, in general, easily trained till reduced very 
low; and it requires considerable time, as well as 
much expense and attention, before he can be 
brought into such high order as is requisite. He 
must also be of a gentle temper, and disposed to 
put confidence in his keeper; as he will not readily 
have connection with a female, whilst under the 
influence of fear or distrust. Of this I have seen 
many instances—nor do I recollect one male ele¬ 
phant in ten, which had been taken after attaining 
its full growth, much inclined to intimacy with the 
other sex. This is a most convincing proof that 
those males which are captured early in life, and 
have been domesticated for many years, more 
readily procreate their species than elephants taken 
at a later period.” 
