and the more I have watched the proceedings of some animals, the more I become convinced that this is the case.
I may here mention, that on the occasion above referred to, when the animals in Exeter ’Change saw the scarlet coats and fur caps of the soldiers who were called in to destroy the elephant, they manifested the greatest surprise and alarm at the sight of them.
Amongst the animals there was a large old lion, so tame that he was often suffered to walk about, when he would gently rub himself against any person present, although I must confess I felt inclined to decline his caresses.
It is a curious fact, with reference to what has been said about poisoning the elephant, that the cage of one of the tigers was painted white, and the animal became paralytic in two days, and remained so when the menagerie was removed to the old stables at Carlton House.
Nothing can show the intelligence of elephants more than the several accounts which have been published of the assistance they render when a troop of wild elephants has been driven into a corral. A tame elephant will then assist in fastening ropes round the legs of the wild ones; will push them towards the trees round which the ropes are to be wound in order to secure the victim. When this has been done, and he becomes aware of his captivity, the poor animal evinces the greatest rage, and struggles violently to free himself, but ineffectually, while the tame elephant shows much satisfaction at what has taken place. When thus subdued and no longer able to roam undisturbed amongst the beauteous forests of Ceylon, or to ascend those sunny hills covered with gorgeous flowers and the brushwood on which he delights to browse; instead of this, the poor brute utters choking cries, while the tears trickle down his cheeks, and his captivity is from thenceforward secure. His ropes are slackened, and he is marched down to a river between two tame elephants, to whom he is fastened, to drink and bathe, the tame ones having the greatest control over him.
It generally takes two months before the captive elephant can he put to work, his first ignominious employment generally being to tread clay in a brick-field.
Sir Emerson Tennent, in his pleasing work on the natural history of Ceylon, gives so interesting an account of a young elephant captured with its mother, and sent to the government house at Colombo, that I cannot resist transcribing it. He says;
“This young elephant became a general favourite with the servants. He attached himself particularly to the coachman, who had a little shed erected for him near his own quarters at the stables. But his favourite resort was the kitchen, where he received a daily allowance of milk and plantains, and picked up several other delicacies besides. He was innocent and playful in the extreme, and when walking in the grounds he would trot up to me, twine his little trunk round my arm, and coax me to take him up to the fruit trees. In the evening the grass-cutters now and then indulged him by permitting him to carry home a load of fodder for the horses, on which occasions he assumed an air of gravity that was highly amusing, thus showing that he was deeply impressed with the importance of the service entrusted to him. Being sometimes permitted to enter the dining-room, and helped to fruit and dessert, he at last learned his way to the side-board; and on more than one occasion having stolen in during the absence of the servants, he made a clear sweep of the wine-glasses and china in his endeavours to reach a basket of oranges. For these and similar pranks we were at last forced to put him away. He was sent to the government stud, where he was affectionately received and adopted by one of the tame female elephants, and he now takes his turn of public duty in the department of the commissioner of roads.”
HANDECK.
[At Handeck the Aar makes its celebrated fall; its beauty is much increased by the fall of the Handeck, which takes place exactly at the same spot,—“mingling its tributary waters midway with the more powerful column of the Aar.”
Emblem of love, two streams united,
Two hearts for ever join’d together,
For wintry and for summer weather,
By love’s lamp lighted!
Away in the mountains
Rising from icy fountains,
Far, far apart, and all unheeding
Of whither God is leading,
Unfetter’d, maiden-free,
Untouch’d by passion’s fire,
Knowing but one desire,
To reach the everlasting sea!
Not so, not so, far in the distance lies
The place of meeting,
Whither from earliest morn
Each has been swiftly borne
For a sweet greeting.
There the two hearts unite
Lit by the rainbow’s light
In soften’d glory:
Dearer than brother’s love,
Heedless of others’ love—
Old, happy story
Then join’d for ever,
Nothing can sever,
Till life’s short course be done,
Until the goal be won.
Heart join’d to heart,
No more, no more to part
Under the broad bright sun!
ANOTHER LITERARY PIRATE.
Nearly the whole article entitled “Swans on the Thames,” in No. 221 of Once a Week, is taken almost word for word from the “History of British Birds,” by the late William Yarrell, and of which the publisher is Mr. Van Voorst. This article, through the mala fides of its contributor, appeared in our columns without any acknowledgment of the source whence it was derived. For the sake of other editors, therefore, it is desirable to state that the name of the delinquent is Miss Fanny C. Boothby, of 7, Park Villas West, Richmond, Surrey, S.W.—Ed. O. a W.
