ed to God who gave it about two hours after I left him. Having gone from our world, we cannot, we ought not, to follow him any farther; only this I will say, that he has received his sentence from him who can do him no wrong; for," Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Now, from what we have seen of the life and death of these poor men, we may justly conclude, that "the way of transgressors is hard." It was the saying of an old divine, that it required a person much harder labour to be damned than to be saved. We must ac knowledge the idea to be just, although it may appear to be strangely expressed. But certain and true it is, that although "these ways may seem right unto a man while he is walking in them, yet the end thereof is death." Now, although these persons whom I have just mentioned did not shoot themselves nor any of their comrades, yet the reader will easily perceive, by their conduct, the bad effects of evil principles and evil practices, which evidently led to the commission of such crimes as I have too justly charged upon some of the regiment.

CHAPTER IX.

Leave Masulipatam.—Anecdotes of the Elephant.— Its revenge of an injury on a Serjeant.-The Author's hardships and illness.-Hurricane.-Mrs. B. stands godmother to Serjeant Lee's child.-Account of Mrs. Lee. Her death.-The child taken home by Mrs. B.-Remarkable cases of Hydrophobia.—Interesting account of a bird called Minor.

WE left Masulipatam to proceed towards Madras, upon the 30th July, 1811, nothing taking place upon the march that I shall trouble you with. When we came to St. Thomas's Mount, (the place where the field force was formed,) it was expected that we were to take the duty of Fort St. George again; but, after being encamped, and in suspense for eight days, we were ordered to proceed to Trichin

opoly. This was a march of four weeks farther; so we left the Mount, and commenced our route towards that place upon the 17th of August, that day three years we left it, to take the field with the centre division of the army. I can hardly entertain you with any new thing upon our march, but an anecdote or two about the elephant. These useful animals, as I said before, carry the soldiers' tents, the oldest in the service generally taking the lead of the rest, having a white flag fastened to his load, the rest falling in quite naturally behind him : and I also stated that they follow the regiment or the army; and at no time, that ever I knew of, go before them. And I also, upon the field force, stated that the men frequently fall behind when the journey is very long, being unable many of them to sustain such fatigue. So one day, when we were hard travelled, a young lad who was scarcely able to draw the one foot past the other, (as we say,) was deliberating upon lying down upon the side of the road, and giving it up for a bad job, but the leader of the elephants coming up with his white flag, before he was aware, (as they make no noise upon a sandy road,) quietly took the

firelock from his shoulder, and gave it to the keeper, who was upon the neck of the animal, where they always ride, as upon a horse's back, carrying a small tomahawk, by which they direct him; but this is seldom needed, as they know every thing almost by the word of command. As I said, he took the firelock from the poor wearied soldier, and gave it to his keeper. The lad being much frightened, not knowing but the elephant intended knocking out his brains with it, gave a fearful stare, and ran off as quickly as his wearied limbs could carry him; but this alarm put fresh spirits into him, and perceiving that the benevolent animal meant him no harm but good, by easing him of his principal load, he came to the camp ground in company with his new acquaintance, whom he every now and then eyed with a look of uncertain satisfaction. I . had this story from Serjeant Gray, who commanded the rear guard, a man whom I could believe as firmly as if I had witnessed the whole scene myself. But this is nothing very wonderful, in that truly wonderful animal; for the elephant attached to my own company and I got so very intimate upon the march, that he would not pass the tent of which I had

charge, unless I came and spoke with him. Our friendship originated in this way; I used always to keep a piece of rice cake for him, when we could get it to ourselves for money; and while he was getting his morsel in the morning, the men would be preparing the tent, poles, &c. and thereby we were generally first ready for the march, which was no small matter in our favour.

I could relate many such stories, which I find more pleasure in, than telling you of men shooting themselves and one another; but these may serve as specimens. Although these creatures are possessed of most wonderful patience, as well as sagacity, yet they can be irritated, as I will make appear. I intend just to state one incident in proof of this, and then I have done with them. It is customary soldier of each

in this country to appoint a European regiment to take care that the elephants are attended to upon the march, both with regard to work and provisions; and this person is generally a non-commissioned officer, who receives the appellation of elephant major. A serjeant who held this situation in the 30th regiment, one day loaded a poor fatigued animal with abuse, which he thought he was not