THE BEAR.


Bears will often continue on the road in front of the palanquin for a
mile or two, tumbling and playing all sorts of antics, as if they were
taught to do so. I believe it is their natural disposition; for they
certainly are the most amusing creatures imaginable in their wild state.
It is no wonder that with monkeys they are led about to amuse mankind.
It is astonishing, as well as ludicrous, to see them climb rocks, and
tumble or rather roll down precipices. If they are attacked by any
person on horseback, they stand erect on their hind legs, shewing a fine
set of white teeth, and making a cackling kind of noise. If the horse
comes near them, they try to catch him by the legs, and if they miss
him, they tumble over and over several times. They are easily speared by
a person mounted on a horse that is bold enough to go near them.




SAGACITY OF THE ELEPHANT.


An elephant belonging to Mr. Boddam, of the Bengal Civil Service, at
_Gyah_, used every day to pass over a small bridge leading from his
master's house into the town of _Gyah_. He one day refused to go over
it, and it was with great difficulty, by goring him most cruelly with
the _Hunkuss_ [iron instrument], that the _Mahout_ [driver] could get
him to venture on the bridge, the strength of which he first tried with
his trunk, shewing clearly that he suspected that it was not