164 The Wild Elephant. 



exertion. Hence the services of an elephant are of much 



less value in clearing a forest than in dragging and piling 



felled timber. But in the latter occupation he manifests 



an intelligence and dexteri-ty which is surprising to a 



stranger, because the sameness of the operation enables 



the anirnal to go on for hours disposing of log after log, 



almost without a hint or direction from his attendant. 



For example, two elephants employed in piling ebony 



and satinwood in the yards attached to the commissariat 



stores at Colombo, Avere so accustomed to their work, 



that they were able to accomplish it with equal precision 



and with greater rapidity than if it had been done by 



dock-labourers. When the pile attained a certain height, 



and they were no longer able by their conjoint efforts to 



raise one of the heavy logs of ebony to the summit, they 



had been taught to lean two pieces against the heap, up 



the incline of which they gently rolled the remaining 



logs, and placed them trimly on the top. 



It has been asserted that in their occupations " ele- 

 phants are to a surprising extent the creatures of habit," • 

 that their movements are altogether mechanical, and that 

 " they are annoyed by any deviation from their accus- 

 tomed practice, and resent any constrained departure 

 from the regularity of their course." So far as my own 

 observation goes, this is incorrect ; and I am assured by 

 officers of experience, that in regard to changing his 

 treatment, his hours or his occupation, an elephant re- 

 quires no more consideration than a horse, but exhibits 

 the same pliancy and facility. 



* Menageries, etc. " The Elephant," vol. ii. p. 2 3. 



