The cries of the elephant are of three kinds. By the first, which is very shrill, and caused by his trunk, he expresses his playful humour. The second is a low note, produced by the mouth, and is expressive of want. The third is a violent roar, proceeding from the throat, and indicates irritation or revenge.
It is impossible to ascertain the age to which elephants arrive in a wild state. We may, however, form some opinion of the term of their existence, by judging from the circumstance, that, in a state of confinement, they have been known to live a hundred and thirty years ; and we are probably within proper bounds, when we fix the extent of the period at two hundred years.
The sexual connection of the elephant has been the subject of much discussion. As these animals rarely copulate in a domestic state, several naturalists have at tempted to account for the circumstance, by ascribing to the elephant ideas of independence unknown even to man, supposing them possessed of too much greatness of soul to propagate their species in bondage, and beget a race of slaves ; or of too much modesty to suffer any hu man creature, or even any of their own kind, to witness their union. But reasons have lately been assigned why the males seldom show much inclination to have connec tion with the females in a domestic state. When a male elephant is taken in the prime of life, he is bold and un governable, and is not easily tamed until be is much re duced in body ; and when thus brought low, it requires a considerable time, as well as much attention and ex pellee, before he can be brought into such high order as is necessary to inspire him with thoughts of the other sex. Further, unless he is of a gentle disposition, and disposed to put confidence in his keeper, and thus es cape the influence of fear and distrust, he will spew no inclination for sensual intercourse. But this continence of the elephant, in a domestic state, has been asserted without proof, and in direct opposition to the testimony of the ancients. The Romans collected elephants both from the east and the south, to accompany their armies, and to add to the parade of their courts; and they had an opportunity of witnessing the fertility of these animals in a state of confinement, as their historians have faithfully recorded. .Elian says, " Cum Tiberii Cxsaris nepos Germanicus, gladiatorum spectaculum edidit, plures jam grander utriusque sexus cicphanti Roma: erant, e quibus alii plerique generati extiterunt : quorum artus interea dum committebantur et confirmabantur, et membra in firma conglutinabantur, peritus vir ad pertractandcis eorum senses animosque mirabili quodam disciplinx ge nere eos erudicbat." .iElian (translation by Conrad Ges ner) de Animal. Xat. lib. ii. cap. 11. Columella more ex pressly affirms, " India perhibetur molibus ferarum mi rabilis, pad turn in hac terra (Italy) vastitate belluas pro generari quis neget, cum inter mania nostra natos ani madvertamus elephantos ?" De Re Rustica, lib. iii. cap. 3.
These passages appear to have been overlooked by succeeding observers, and every naturalist, in the ab sence of facts, was left to form his own opinion on the subject. At last an experiment was instituted in India,
by Al r Corse,* whose opportunities were favourable, and whose talents and habits of observation qualified him fdr the task. This gentleman was then Resident at Tipperah, a. province of Bengal, situated at the eastern extremity of the British dominions in Asia, where herds of ele phants are taken every season. He kept a young hand some male elephant, of a most docile disposition, and a favourite female together, in a spacious shade erected on purpose for their accommodation. In the day they went out together to feed ; they also brought home a load of such succulent food as their drivers and attend ants could collect. After their return they stood to gether, slept near each other, and every opportunity was granted them to form a mutual attachment. In the evening they had each ten or twelve pounds of rice soaked in water, to which a little salt was added ; and from the middle of May until the latter end of June, some warm stimulants, such as onions, garlic, turmeric, and ginger, were added to their usual allowance of rice. Long before this, however, a partiality had taken place, as was evident from their mutual endearments, and ca ressing each other with their trunks, and this without eeremony before a number of other elephants, as well as their attendants. "Near the end of June 1793, (says Mr Corse,) I was satisfied the male would not, even to re gain his freedom, quit the object of his regard ; I there fore ordered the keepers to picket the female by one of her fore-legs only, in the house where they stood, but to leave the male at full liberty. Fearful, however, of hurting their supposed delicacy, and thinking the near ness and sight of the attendants might possibly give umbrage to their modesty, l desired them to remain quiet in a little hut erected on the outside of the build ing appropriated to the elephants, where they could see equally well as if nearer. On the evening of the 28th of June 1793, the male was let loose from his pickets, and soon after he covered the female, without any dif ficulty, although before this she never could have re ceived the male, being taken when very young, about five years and a half prior to this period. The male was then led quietly to his stall ; but early on the morn ing of the 29th he became so troublesome that the dri vers, as they said, in order to quiet him, but partly I suspect to indulge their own curiosity, permitted him to cover her a second time, which he readily (lid before the usual attendants, as well as a number of other spec tators. After this the driver brought me a particular account of the whole process. Though much pleased with the success of the experiment, yet I was rather chagrined he had not given me notice, that I might have been it an eye-witness, and therefore told him he should not receive the promised reward till I had satisfied myself of the fact.