The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-01-11

From the Salem Gdzete.
A FINE YOU'VE ELEPHANT, belonging to
Pickering Dodge, E,q., came passenger in
tue ship Rome, which arrived at Boston last
week. We are informed that he has en-
ioyed uninterrupted health on the passage,
always eating HIS allowance with good APP
petite, although he suffered considerably
from the cold, notwithstanding all the pre-
cautions t.ken by Captain Kennedy for his
comfort. His daily rations were thirty
pounds of hay, thirty pounds of straw, and
twenty-f pounds of rice, moistened with
twelve gallons of water. On several occa-
sions during the passage, he displayed the
sagacity and gratitude for attention, FOL
which the species is so remarkable. Before
he was put on board at Calcutta, house was
built for him, in the strongest manner, COW
cred with thick teak-planks, which were
fastened to the frame by stout iron spikes,
clenched on the inside. The elephant was
swung into the ship by means Of crane and
straps around the body, as oxen are prepared
for shooting. His keeper guided him into
the domcl prepared for him, without any
trouble, but in that hot climate he soon
found the exclusion of fresh air diagfeea-
BILE, and did not cast about long for reme-
dy. In a playful manner, he applied his
trunk TO the stout and firmly secured planks,
wrenched them off as if they had been
straws, and dashed them away. No attempt
was made at that time to replace them; but
when the ship approached our coast, the ell
ephant began to suffer from the cold. To
shelter him Capt. Kennedy resolved to make
another endeavor to close up his house.
This time there was no attempt on the part
of the elephant to ohstruct the process. He
appeared perfectly to understand the obec;
and TO feel grateful for it. Nothing but
thin boards were used, fastened with com
mon nails the slightest blow of his trunk
would have shiveI cd them to atoms, but he
cautiously abstaine3 from touching them.
The whole was made air-tight, as the sea-
men thought, BY filling the crevices with
straw, but the quick eye of the elephant; dis
covered several small assures, which he
pointed out with his trunk, till they were
successfully filed When the whele was
compl7ted, his satisfaction appeared to have
no bounds.
Before the approach Of cold weather, a
coat had been made for him, composed Of
gunny-bags, stuffed with straw. Hesuffer-
ed this TO be tried upon him and nicely fas-
tened in every part; hat no sooner was the
fitting completed, than he stripped it off in s
moment and threw it aside. AT length,
however, the cold became extreme, and the
elephant evidently suffered exceedingly.
Capt. Kennedy then had new dress made
for HIM, and placed it on him in the same
manner as before. In this case, as with re-
spect to the covering of the house, the ele-
plant fully appreciated the kindness of the
motive, and his gratitude and satisfaction
were manifested in the most Ineligible
manner.
During the whole passage, he was COM
pletely under the control of his mahout, or
keeper and would lie or keel down when
ever ordered by him; but always slept stand
ing. He would brace his head firmly against
one end of the house, and bis side against
the wall, and whenever the ship shifted her
course he altered his position to~conform to
it. He never left his enclosure during the
whole passage of more than hundred and
sixty days.
Some difficulty was anticipated in land
ing him, but it was fortunately effected with
ease and safety, A flooring of double plank
was laid from the ships deck to the wharf,
and the elephant, with the mahout on his
back, was released from his long imprison-
rnent and conducted to the gangway. He
surveyed infinitely the platform prepared for
his egress, and placed his foot upon it to
test its strength. He was not entirely sat
ished, however, of its capacity to endure his
great weight, and returned TO his house.
After while he was coaxed out again, and
lines were attached to each of his e-legs.
Again he placed one of his feet upon the
platform, and at that moment the men who
were holding the line drew it tight and kept
the leg stretched out. He then extended
his other fore-leg, and that was Immediately
drawn out in the same manner. Finding
there was c0mpulsion in the case, and that
he must CO. and judging, like a philosopher,
that his weight was less likely to break
through when spread over large surface
than when concentrated, he threw himself
upon his belly and by a muscular movement
worked his way from the ship to the wharf,
to the great delight of thousands of people
who covered the neighboring wharves, yes
sells, and stores.
1t can do no harm to mention, that not
drop of ardent spirit was drunk on board
Capt kennedy's ship, from the day OF her
departure to her return. Plenty of hot cof-
fee and chocolate supplied its place in cold
weather, and the yankee switched preserv-
ed the health of the men in Calcutta, while
half the rum drinking crews there were in
the hospital.
CAsMlR, THE JusT. The following anccdote
is given of Casmir ii, King of Poland, in l77S.
He was one day at play, aid won all the money
Of one of his nobility, who, .incensed at his ill.,
fortune, suddenly struck the prince blow on
the ear, in the heat of his uncontrolled passion
lie fled Immediately from justice but being
pursued and overtaken, wns condemned 10 lose
his head. Tho generous Casmir determined 9th.
crwise. am not surprised said he, " al the
gentemnn's conduct; for not having il in his
power to revenge himself on fortune, no won.
der he should attack her favoiiie IN me % Af.
Ter the generous words he revoked the sen
tenco, returned the nobeman his money, and
declared that he alone was faulty, as he en-.
couraged by his example, pernicious practice
that might terminate in tho ruin of hundreds
of poople-Fieteher's History Of !noiand.
a gentleman in company once said he
could make pun upon any thing TO test
Il. ..aZ