THEIR USEFUL PROPERTIES. 209 



the tent-door during breakfast, to be treated with a 

 little sugar-candy from his tea-cup ; and no spaniel 

 can be more innocently playful, or fonder of those who 

 take notice of him, than this docile animal was. 



These creatures are highly valued in the oriental part 

 of the world, both as appendages to royal pomp, and 

 for their many useful qualities in peace and war. 

 In a camp they only carry the thrones and castles 

 of the sovereign and his principal officers ; and are 

 sometimes kept in rich caparisons, merely for parade. 

 They are a common present among the Asiatic 

 princes and generals of high rank. When properly 

 disciplined, they know their duty, and are as obe- 

 dient to the word of command as a rational being. 

 On emergencies, they can travel two hundred miles 

 in forty-eight hours ; and will hold out for a con- 

 siderable time at forty miles a day. Some of the 

 largest of them are from eleven to twelve feet high. 

 They are mostly of a dark grey colour, nearly black ; 

 but the face is generally painted with a variety 

 of tints : and the tails and legs of the favourite 

 horses belonging to the wealthy Indians are dyed of 

 a crimson or orange colour. The elephant bred to 

 war will stand firm against a shower of musket-balls, 

 and will never give way unless mortally wounded. 

 Mr. Hervey has seen an elephant* with upwards of 



* From Mr. Forbes's account. 



