The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-07-01 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIES.

We copy the following remarks frown the Barhadian, a
Ilarbadoes Paper, received yesterday:—
BRIDGE Totes, Apart 20. 1021.
The Rinaldo brig of war, with the Arm 3lareft mails, which
arrived last Saturday, was detained by krovernment for the express
purpose of bringing out the Order in Council, with the regula-
tion* for the amelioration of the PiaVON to is tried first to she
island of Experiment. Trinidad--a colony avowedly kept under
the direct control of the Crown, without the interposition of a
Legislative Dotty, in eider that every visionary project, sufgested
by and colonial enthusiasts. should Ira{ be trial &we K e haws
great reason to complain that, notwithstanding this detention, our
Papers were t :sly so the 13th ult. To the politeness of a gentle.
man (prwasuster ha the packet) we are indebted for the use of the
Mare of the 17th, containing the debate on the West India ques-
, don. refraim from editorial comment, to lease all possible
room for Mr. Cannir.g's speech, and regret extremely that we can-
rot *ford our readers the whole of the dcbate. The speech of the
Foreign Secretary we should be inclined to eaD mild and concilia-
tory, but for the cutting sarcasm with which he spoke of the gen-
' denten of Jamaica. This is • vein, indeed, in whseh Mr. Canning
, takes every opportunity to indulge, but, in this afair. our fellow.
colonists at Jamaica are most nearly concerned. The unfeeling
ter. ark which soon followed, was intended to come home to all
West Indians—•• If you rebel, it shall be in behalf of the
whip." Lord Dathurst's speech, we must do his Lordship the
justice to say, is peculiarly characterised by temperance and for-
bearance.

His Majesty's Proclamation (better late than never) speaks a lan-
guage which we hope the slaves throughout the colonies will readi-
ly understand, and intp.kitly obey.
APRIL 21.

Knowing the anxiety of the public to see all that
gentlemen of the House of Commons say shoat us unfortunate
West Indians. we have excluded an other matten—with the exec?.
don of new advertisements sad shipping intellispeam—ia order to
gratify our readers, as far Mt OUT sheet, with tie aid of a supple-
ment. would allow us. Wears very much disposed to trouble our
friends with a few comments on the speeches, bet we check the in-
clination. that we may embrace as such as passible of the discus-
sion. We shall only remark, that although nose inveterate foes
of ours. 31easts. Wilberforce and Buxton, (erbium speeches are full
of malignity. misrepresentation. and falsehoods) were confounded-
, ly mortified because the Ministers would ro no anther than to make
a trial first on the good people of Trinidad, yet we see mischief
enough brewing for as all. The good understanding between the
' West India Body in London, and the .'alosis, wo lake to be a eery
ominous circumstance. According to Mr. Canning, they seem rea-
dy to agree in every proposal save that of hasty esancipation ; and
Mr. 14 . says, " All the well-educated and liberal West India
gentlemen live in England :"—rrgo, an who reside in the colonies
arc and ignorant. We have some pederast in our mind's
eye, living in England, who, we fancy, base spurted with indigna-
tion at such praise, and from arch a man, whose tongue and whose
pen have been incessantly employed in traducing the West Indian
character. But, if we get warmed with the subject, we shall go
on ; and we promised to lee sparing of our editorial remarks, so
stop we here for the present.

ELEPHANT FIGHTS IN INDIA.

[From the Any Mon Alp Maga:inc.)

A relic of ancient Indian splendour is still to be wit-
nessed at Lucnow, in the elephant-fights which are some-
times exhibited, and for the purpose of which, a consider-
able number of these animals, of unusual fierceness, are
entertained. It is well known that at particular periods
the male elephant becomes fierce, unmanageable, or, in
truth, mad ; or, as it is termed by the natives, must ; at
which tune they readily destroy any animal they meet
with, or tight with each other when opposed. They are
in this statethiven into an inelosure or space appointed for
the purpose ; and wiih certain precautions are permitted to
encounter each other. The shock of two such animals
cannot but form a terrific exhibition, anal must excite a
very keen interest in the minds of the numerous specta-
tors ; but those who form very high expectations would be
disappointed. The animals themselves, as if conscious of
their own irresistible weight and force, close cautiously ;
and there arc even Irecautions taken to prevent serious
damage: if they are very fierce they are brought up on
opposite sides of a wall, somewhat more than knee high ;
and the fight is confined to wrestling across this harrier with
their tusks anal trunks. if they are permitted to meet in
open space there are always men ready with fireworks, of
which the elephant entertains a great terror, to rush in be-
tween and separate them. The realer will be surprised to
hear, that for the most part their mohouts, or keepers, sit
upon their backs, and guide or urge them on. It is un-
common for any elephant, even the most wild and tierce, to
harm or cease to recognise his keeper ; and dangerous
though the service be, the moliout sits upon his own beast,
exposed to the shock of the conflict, and to the tusks and
trunk of the adverse elephant, with wonderful composure.
Sometimes the animals are let loose without any re-
straint ; and if two pretty equally matched and powerful
animals thus meet, the conflict is terrible, though less so
to the eye than might be expected ; for their motions are
comparatively slow IA measured ; they join and push
with the head, lock and clash the tusks, and intertwine
and grapple with the trunk, uttering from time to time
short shrill shrieks. After a while the weakest is borne
down upon his haunches, or may be rolled over on his
side, when the victor animal attacks hint with his tusks,'
land would injure or put him to death, if permitted ; but
the combat is then terminated. Horsemen, mounted on
active well-managed coursers, with fireworks bound on
their spear-heads, dash towards the struggling beasts, and,
goading the conqueror, force him to quit his fallen foe to
turn on the aggressors, who fly in their turn and draw him
after them. Frequent accidents occur at these spectacles--
a horse falling, or a foot slipping, generally proves fatal:
, the enraged elephant seizes on what he can come up with,
and crushes it to pieces, after perhaps playing with it for a
while us a cat with a mouse. I was myself witness to an
accident of this nature : an uncommonly wild and power- ,
ful elephant bail been let loose, which, after hiving driven
away its antagonist, set off at full speed towards the neigh-
bouring jungle, followed by the horsemen, who soon suc-
ceeded in turning him. A great crowd had collected, for
the place was au open market-place within the town ; and
the elephant took its way right through the midst of the
market, then to the right and left, the men running, and
the women scarcely waiting to snatch up their children in
their sudden terror. One unhappy man stumbled and fell
just in the path of the furious animal : we saw it stoop
and pass ovir him ; and so rapidly did it pass, that some
doubted if the man were hurt. lint they were soon unde-
ceived : he lay extended on the spot, and, the danger hi ing
past, those nearest him lifted and found him quite dead.
ii-hether the blow had been given by the elephant's foot,
tusk, or trunk, was not known: a touch of either is
always sufficient to cause death.
The late Nawaub of Lucnow was much attached to cud).
amusements : be had also a particular fondness for, anti
was a good judge of horses. He rode and hunted a great
deal, and took much pains in selecting and keeping up his
stud, and perhaps possessed the greatest variety u!', and
choicest horses of any Prince in India. Ile kept a good
pack of bounds, with regular huntsmen, anal every ale-
, scription of dog, with a vast quantity of sporting appa-
ratus of all kinds. His present Majesty has no such
'delights; his tastes lie quite in another line: the only
thing he seems fond of being boats and vessels of ilifrerein
'sorts. The stud is fast falling into decay, and a ith it all
that hears reference to field sports er pursuits of p s ilea
deteription.