That brutes possess memory is indisputable; indeed, we might fill pages with instances of the power of memory in animals, some rather startling; but as common every-day observation enforces the fact upon almost every one, we need not insist upon it. However, by way of adding interest to a disquisition some may deem dry, we will introduce the following anecdote, related by Mr. Corse, in his Observations on the Natural History of the Elephant:[6] "In June, 1787, Fâttra Mungul, a male elephant, taken the year before, was travelling in company with other elephants towards Chittagong, laden with a tent and some baggage for our accommodation on the journey. Having come upon a tiger's track, which elephants discover readily by the smell, he took fright and ran off to the woods, in spite of the efforts of his driver. On entering the wood, the driver saved himself by springing from the elephant, and clinging to the branch of a tree under which he was passing. When the elephant had got rid of his driver, he soon contrived to shake off his load. As soon as he ran away, a trained female was dispatched after him, but could not get up in time to prevent his escape. She, however, brought back his driver, and the load he had thrown off, and we proceeded without any hope of ever seeing him again. Eighteen months after this, when a herd of elephants had been taken, and had remained several days in the inclosure, till they were enticed into the outlet, there tied and led out in the usual manner, one of the drivers, viewing a male elephant very attentively, declared he resembled the one which had run away. This excited the curiosity of every one to go and look at him; but when any person came near, the animal struck at him with his trunk, and in every respect appeared as wild and outrageous as any of the other elephants. At length, an old hunter coming up, and examining him narrowly, declared he was the very elephant that had made his escape about eighteen months before. Confident of this, he boldly rode up to him on a tame elephant, ordering him to lie down, and pulling him by the ear at the same time. The animal seemed quite taken by surprise, and instantly obeyed the word of command, with as much quickness as the ropes with which he was tied permitted; uttering at the same time a peculiar shrill squeak through his trunk, as he had formerly been known to do, by which he was immediately recognised by every person who had ever been acquainted with this peculiarity." The same observer informs us, that another elephant, a female, taken in 1765, was turned loose in 1767, and retaken in 1782. She then recollected the customs and words of command learned during her former bondage; she laid herself down at the command of her driver, he fed her from his seat, gave her his stick to hold, which she took with her trunk, put it into her mouth, and returned it as she was directed, and as she had been accustomed to do. [6] Phil. Trans., 1799.