668 PROBOSCIUEA. 



sooner perceived than it was overcome. The sagacious animals selected 

 two straight pieces of timber, placed one end of each piece on the 

 ground, with the other resting on the top of the pile, so as to form a 

 sliding-way for the next logs; and, luiving seen tliat tlicy were perfectly 

 steady and in a straight line, the four-legged laborers rolled up the slope 

 they had thus formed the six pieces of ebony for the fourth layer on the 

 pile. Not the least amusing part of the performance was, the careful 

 survey of the pile, made by one of the elephants, after placing each log, 

 to ascertain if it were laid perfectly square with the rest." 



A still more striking proof of sagacity exhibited by one of these com- 

 missariat elephants is told : " One evening, while riding in the vicinity 

 of Kandy, ni)' horse evinced some excitement at a noise whicii aj)- 

 proached us in the thicl< jungle, and which consisted of a repetition ot 

 the ejaculation, Uruipli ! iiniip/t ! in a hoarse and dissatisfied tone. A turn 

 in the forest explained the mystery, by bringing me face to face with a 

 tame elcpliant, unaccompanied by any attendant. He was laboring pain- 

 fully to carry a heavy beam of timber, which he balanced acioss his 

 tusks, but the pathway being narrow, he was forced to bend his head to 

 one side to permit it to pass endways; and the exertion and incon- 

 venience combined, led him to utter the dissatisfied sounds which dis- 

 turbed the composure of my horse. 



"On seeing us lialt, the elephant raised his head, reconncjitred us for 

 a moment, then flung down the timber, and forced liimself backward 

 among the brushwood, so as to leave a passage, of which he expected us 

 to avail ourselves. My horse still hesitated : the elephant observed, and 

 impatientlv thrust himself still deeper into the jungle, repeating his cry 

 of iiniip/i! but in a voice evidentlv meant to encourage us to come on. 

 Still the horse trembled ; and, anxious to observe the instinct of the two 

 sagacious creatures, 1 forbore any interference: again the elephant 

 wedged himself farther in among the trees, and waited impatiently for 

 us to pass him, and after tiie horse had done so, tremblingly and timidly, 

 I saw the wise creature stoop and take up his heavy burden, turn and 

 balance it on his tusks, and resume his route, hoarsely snorting, as before, 

 his discontented remonstrance." 



The working elephant is not so valuable for certain kinds of work as 

 has been supposed. In the untipened districts they are useful for carry- 

 ing stores, and constructing bridges. But in more civilized districts, 

 where the roads permit the use of horses and oxen, their services ma)- 



