sufficiently strong. At last he went on, and before he could get over,
the bridge gave way, and they were precipitated into the ditch, which
killed the driver, and considerably injured the elephant. It is
reasonable to suppose that the elephant must have perceived its feeble
state when he last passed over it. It is a well known fact, that
elephants will seldom or ever go over strange bridges, without first
trying with their trunks if they be sufficiently strong to bear their
weight,--nor will they ever go into a boat without doing the same.

I had a remarkably quiet and docile elephant, which one day came home
loaded with branches of trees for provender, followed by a number of
villagers, calling for mercy (their usual cry when ill used);
complaining that the _Mahout_ had stolen a kid from them, and that it
was then on the elephant, under the branches of the trees. The _Mahout_
took an opportunity of decamping into the village and hiding himself. I
ordered the elephant to be unloaded, and was surprised to see that he
would not allow any person to come near to him, when at all other times
he was perfectly tractable and obedient. Combining all the
circumstances, I was convinced that the _Mahout_ was guilty, and to get
rid of the noise, I recompensed the people for the loss of their kid. As
soon as they were gone away, the elephant allowed himself to be
unloaded, and the kid was found under the branches, as described by the
people. I learnt from my _Sarcar_, that similar complaints had been made
to him before, and that the rascal of a _Mahout_ made it a practice to
ride the elephant into the midst of a herd of goats, and had taught him
to pick up any of the young ones he directed; he had also accustomed
him to steal their pumpions and other vegetables, that grew against the
inside of their fences like French beans, which could only be reached by
an elephant. He was the best _Mahout_ I ever knew, and so great a rogue
that I was obliged to discharge him.