Jumbo the African elephant was purchased by the American showman P.T Barnum from the Zoological Society of London in 1882. Jumbo's departure to America was covered with great interest in the British press, with The Illustrated London News dedicating a double page spread to his journey to St Katherine's Dock, which was made in a huge timber cage pulled by dray horses through the streets of London. At the docks, the cage was lifted by derrick unto a barge, where it made its way down the river to Millwall Docks. Jumbo's rations for the Atlantic leg of his journey, some 13 days, included two tons of hay, three sacks of oats, two of biscuits and one of onions, of which Jumbo was especially fond.