The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-07-04
NATURAL HISTORY.
THE ELEPHANT.

Shipp, late Lieutenant lin the 87th Regiment :"
In the year 1904, when we were in pursuit Of Hoo
kah, there was in our encampment very large eIc
phant used for the purpose of carrying tents for some
of the European corps. 1t was the season in which
they become most manageable, and his LEGS were
consequently loaded with huge chains, and lie was
constantly watched by his keepers. BY day he was
pretty passive, save when he saw one of his species
when he roared and became Violent and during these
moments of ungovernable phrenzy it was dangerous
for his keepers to approach him, irrate his feel
ings by any epithets that might prove repugnan to
him. On the contrary, every endearing expression
used to soothe and appease him, which with prom.
Uses of sWeetmeats, sometimes succeeded with the
most turbulent to gain them to obedience, when coer-
Give measures would have reused them to the most
desperate acts of violence. BY night their extreme
cunning told them that their keepers were not so
watchul and vigilant. The elephant here alluded to-
one dark night, broke from his chains, and wild
through the encampment, driving men, women, chill
dren, cames horses, cows, and indeed every thing that
could move, before him and roaring and trumpeting
with his trunk, which is with elephants sure sign Of
dspeasure, and that their usual docility has deserted
them. of course no reasonable beings disputed the
road he chose to take those that did soon found
themselves foored. TO record the mischief done by
this infuriated animal in his nocturnal ramble, would
fill much greater space than | can afford for such
matter. Suffice it that in his flight, followed by
swordsmen and spearsmen, shouting and screaming,
he pulled down tents, upset every thing that mpedcd
his progress, severely wounded and injured many and
ultimately killed his keeper by blow from his trunk
He was speared in 90 places, which only inuri-
ated him. His roaring was terrific and he frequently
struck the ground in Indication of his rage. The In
slant he had struck his keeper and found he did not
rise, he suddenly stopped, seemed concerned. looked
at him with the eye of pity and stood rVetted TO the
spot. lie paused for some seconds, then ran towards
the place from whence he had broken loose and went
quietly into his piquet, in front of which lay an infant
about two years old the daughter of the keeper whom
he had killed. The elephant seized the child round
the waist, as gently as its mother would, lifted it from
the ground and caressed and fondled it for time,
every behoder trembling for its safety, and expecting
every moment it would share the fate of its unortu-
nate father but the sagacous animal having turned
the child round three times, quietly laid it down again,
and drew some clothing it that had fallen OIL
After this it stood over the child with its eyes xedon
it, and if did not the penitental tear start from
its eye have it in my life. He then SUD,
mitted to be reclaimed by some other Keepers soou
motloness and detected, and seemed sensible that ne
had done wrong he could not repair. His detection
became more and more visible as he stood and gazeo
upon the atherless babe, who from constant ianlafl
ties with this elephant seemed unintimdated and play
ed with its trunk. From this moment the animal be-
came passive and quiet, and always seemed most oe
lighted when the little orphan was within sight VI
ten have gone, with others of the camp to see MIN
fondng his little adopted but there was visible ar
iteration in his health, after his keepers DEATH anu NC
fell away, and died at Cawnpore six months ailei
wards, people well acquainted with the history 81