290 MAMMALIA-ELEPHANT. 



If the elephant is vindictive, he is no less grateful. A soldier of Pondi* 

 cherry, -who commonly carried to one of these animals a certain measure 

 of arrack every time that he received his pay, having one day drank more 

 than common, and seeing himself pursued by the guard, who threatened to 

 conduct him to prison, took refuge under the elephant, and slept there. It 

 was in vain that the guard attempted to draw him out from this asylum ; 

 the elephant defended him with his trunk. The next day the soldier, be- 

 come sober, wds struck with terror to lie under an animal of this enormous 

 bulk. The elephant, who, no doubt, perceived his consternation, caressed 

 him with his trunk, to remove his fears, and made him understand that he 

 might depart freely. 



The elephant falls sometimes into a sort of a frenzy, which deprives him 

 of his tractableness, and makes him extremely formidable. This commonly 

 happens in the spring season. He is commonly killed on the first symptoms 

 of madness, for fear of mischief. Sometimes he is tied with heavy chains 

 in hopes that he will come to himself; but when he is in his natural state, 

 the most acute pains cannot engage him to do any harm to persons who 

 have not offended him. An elephant, furious with the wounds which he 

 had received in battle at Hambour, ran through the fields, and cried out in 

 the most hideous manner. A soldier, who, notwithstanding the warning of 

 his companions, could not fly, perhaps, because he was wounded, remained 

 in his way ; the elephant was afraid to trample him under his feet, took him 

 with his trunk, placed him gently on one side of the road, and continued his 

 march. The gentlemen of the Academy of Sciences have also communicated 

 to us some facts which they have learned from those who governed the ele- 

 phant at the menagerie of Versailles; and these facts seem to deserve a place. 



" The elephant seemed to discern when any person made a fool of him ; 

 and he remembered the affront to be revenged of it the first opportunity. 

 Having been balked by a man, who feigned to throw something into his 

 mouth, he struck him with his trunk, and broke two of his ribs ; afterwards 

 he trampled him under his feet, and broke one of his legs ; and having 

 kneeled down, he tried to thrust his tusks into the man's belly, which, how- 

 ever, went into the ground on both sides of the thigh, which was not wound- 

 ed. He bruised another man, by squeezing him against the wall for a 

 similar mockery. A painter was desirous to draw him in an extraordinary 

 attitude, which Avas, to keep his trunk erect, and the mouth open. The 

 servant of the painter, to make him remain in that attitude, threw fruits 

 into his mouth ; but afterwards he deceived him, which provoked his indigna- 

 tion; and, as if he had known, that the cause of this deception was the 

 painter's desire of having him drawn, he was revenged on his master, by 

 throwing with his trunk a great quantity of water, which spoiled the paper 

 intended for his design." 



He made less use of his strength than of his dexterity, which was such, 

 that he untied, with great facility, a double leather string which fastened his 



