NATURAL HISTORY. 169 



capital, and the elephant, taking up a formidable position at 

 the entrance, obliged every passenger to pay tribute. It soon 

 became generally known that a donation of jaggery would 

 ensure a safe conduct through the guarded portal, and no 

 one presumed to attempt the passage without the expected 

 offering." 



It has before been mentioned that the Indian elephant is 

 trained for tiger hunting. When the tiger springs, the elephant 

 always raises his proboscis out of reach of the tiger's claws and 

 teeth. 



In captivity, it is very docile and gentle, but sometimes, when 

 provoked, will take a very ample revenge. Of this propensity, 

 many anecdotes are told. 



" A very characteristic action of D'Jeck, the famous elephant 

 of M. Huguet, was lately near costing the life of a young man, 

 a native of Bruges. The elephant, it is well known, is very 

 ibnd of sweetmeats, and this young man amused himself at 

 Madame D'Jeck's expense, baulking her by offering her some, 

 which, whenever she reached out her trunk to take, he imme- 

 diately withdrew. This trick having been noticed by M. Hu- 

 guet, he observed to the young man how foolish such conduct 

 was towards an animal at once so susceptible and vindictive. 

 But not taking warning from this remark, the Belgian again 

 invited the elephant to approach, and not only again deceived 

 her, but gave the sweetmeats to Mademoiselle Betsy. Madame 

 D'Jeck now lost her patience, and, regardless of the presence 

 of her master and a numerous assemblage of spectators, lifted 

 her trunk and knocked the young man down, tearing open his 

 cheek, and rending his clothes to tatters. Happily, M. Huguet 

 interposed his authority, and the elephant left her hold, but the 

 imprudent sufferer was long confined to his bed from the effects 

 of his absurdity." 



The tusks and teeth of the elephant furnish exceedingly fine 

 ivory, which is used for various purposes, such as knife handles, 

 " combs, billiard balls, &c. Sometimes a musket ball has been 

 found imbedded in the tusk without any aperture or mark to 

 show how it got there. In these cases, the ball has penetrated 

 the root of the tusk, and been pushed forward by successive 

 growths of ivory, as the tusk increased in size. A spear head 

 has been found in the same position. 



H 



