During frequent excursions with the Rajah, I penetrated the domesticities of elephant life: guided by Malays to selected spots in the jungle. I have seen beds prepared of soft young branches, about three feet deep, neatly squared off like a well-made stable litter. This, it appears, is an attention paid by the male to his consort. One evening, observing from the _Diamond_ a huge alligator asleep on the mud, some distance up the opposite shore, I embarked with one Malay lad in a small canoe, and paddled up-stream far up on the opposite bank, hoping to drop down in time with the tide, to get a shot that might take effect. On reaching the place, I found marks which showed he had slid off the bank. I had given up all hopes of him, and was plunging my steering, pointed, paddle deep into the water. It struck something hard, and I found the alligator directly under the canoe; his head appeared under the port-bow, his tail lashing the water, covering myself and native boy with mud. Why the brute did not capsize us and make a meal, I cannot imagine, for the canoe was balanced athwart his back. I believe he was more startled, if possible, than we were. A few days after this little ruse, I received information from the Rajah that a large prahu was running a cargo in the jungle, two miles to the southward of the entrance to the Moowar. The boats of the squadron were getting ready, while I, with the interpreter and a double-barrelled rifle, started at once to seaward, and found a large trading-boat endeavouring to make sail. As soon as I got within reach, a ball from my rifle caused both sails to be lowered. By this time she had opened the mouth of the river: there was no further trouble. The interpreter pointed out her berth in the centre of the river. The Nanning war was now over, the Company had recovered their guns, and the natives glad to come to any terms. The blockading squadron was recalled to the ship. This expedition, which I thoroughly enjoyed, lasted from June 10 to August 23. A few days after I rejoined the ship a boat came alongside, with the young elephant on board, and messengers from the Rajah asking me to accept it as a parting gift. Needless to say, it was a present my smart Captain would not permit me to accept. I was sorry to part with my good friend the Rajah. So persuaded was he of my merits, that he solemnly offered me the hand of his daughter in marriage, on condition that I would become his heir and succeed him on the throne of Moowar. It was no idle jest. His Highness wrote officially to the Powers at Penang, and for some years the document was to be seen in the Government offices. I have endeavoured to obtain a copy of this flattering proposal; but the lapse of time, the changes of administration in the affairs of the Straits Settlements, to say nothing of the ravages of white ants, preclude my presenting it to my readers. CHAPTER X THE _MAGICIENNE_ [Sidenote: 1832. Sept.]