ELEPHANTS. 



Mrcustonied to labour conjointly, and which had been taught to raise their wood 

 |)ilcs to a considerable height by constructing an inclined plane of sloping beams, 

 and rolling the logs up the beams. 



The same writer in his work on Ceylon, relates the following curious 

 anecdote of an Ele[)hant. 



" One evening, while riding in the vicinity of Kandy, towards the scene of 

 the ma.^sacre of Major Davie's party in 1S03, my horse evinced some excitement 

 at a noise which apj)roache(l us in the thick jungle, and which consisted of a 

 repetition of the ejaculation, Urnip/t — urmph! in a hoarse and dissatisfied tone. 

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

 tame Elcpliant, unaccomj)anied by any attendant, He was labouring })ainfully 

 to carry a heavy beam of timber, which he l)alanced across his tusks, but the 

 ])athway being narrow, he was forced to bend his head to one side to permit it to 

 |)ass endwavs ; and tiie exertion and inconvenience combined, led him to utter 

 the dissatisfied sounds which disturbed the composure of my horse. 



On seeing us halt, the Elej)hant raised his head, reconnoitred »is for a 

 moment, then fiung down the tind)er, and forced himself backwards among the 

 brushwood, so as to leave a passage, of which lie expected us to avail ourselves. 

 My horse still hesitated: the Elephant obsened, and impatiently thrust himself 

 still deeper into the jungle, rej)eating his cry of urmph, but in a voice evidently 

 meant to encourage us to come on. Still the horse trendjled ; and, anxious to 

 obser\e the instinct of the two sagacious creatures, I forbore any interference ; 

 again the Elephant wedged himself farther in amongst the trees, and waited 

 iujpatiently for us to pass him, and after the horse had done so, tremblingly and 

 timidly, I saw the ^\'^se creature stoop and take up his heavy burthen, turn and 

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

 discontented remonstrance." 



In its general habits the l']lei)hant is restless and irritable, or rather " fidgety," 

 never remaining cpiite still, but always in motion in some way or other. At one 

 time it will sway backwards and forwards, at another it will stoop and rise 

 continually, or it will be getting sand or water and sprinkling it over its body, or 

 it will pluck a leafy branch and wave it slowly and gracefully over its back. It 

 is very fond of bathing, and has a curious predilection for drawing a mixture of 

 mud and water into its trunk, and discharging it over its body. It is an 

 admirable swimmer, and will cross large rivers with perfect ease. Sometimes it 

 prefers walking on the bed of the river, merely protruding the tip of its proboscis 

 above the surface for the purpose of breathing. 



The Indian Elephant is employed more for purposes of state or for sport 

 than for hard labour, and is especially trained for tiger-hunting. As there is a 



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