72 THE ELEPHANT. 



him their assistance, supplying him with food, and furnishing him 

 with clothing. We shall now proceed to the inspection of a nu- 

 merous race of different kinds, which seem created rather for 

 themselves than for us ; but which still contribute to show the 

 diffusive goodness, as well as the unlimited power, of the Creator, 

 in bestowing the blessing of existence on so great a variety of 

 creatures, and so amply providing for their support. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE ELEPHANT. 



11 Peaceful, beneath primeval trees, that cast 

 Their ample shade o'er Niger's yellow stream, 

 And where the Ganges rolls his sacred wave, 

 Or mid the central depth of black 'ning woods. 

 High raised in solemn theatre around, 

 Leans the huge elephant ; wisest of brutes, 

 O truly wise, with gentle might endowed ; 

 Though powerful, not destructive !" THOMSON. 



IN the present chapter, is exhibited to our view, one of the 

 most wonderful objects of animated nature. 



The wisdom and goodness of the great Creator, are clearly 

 visible, in the formation of those creatures, which have already 

 been offered for consideration ; but the same divine attributes 

 are not less conspicuous in a number of others, and particularly 

 in the ponderous and unwieldy 



ELEPHANT, 



Which, in size and strength, surpasses all terrestrial animals, 

 and in sagacity is inferior only to man ; although some assert 

 the superiority of the moose but this opinion seems erroneous, 

 or at least very doubtful. The human race excepted, the elephant, 

 indeed, is the most respectable, as well as the most wonderful of 

 creatures, endowed with life and sensation. 



This wonderful quadruped is a native of Asia and Africa, but 

 is most numerous in the latter. In the extensive regions which 

 lie between the river Senegal and the Cape of Good Hope, ele- 

 phants abound more than in any other part of the world, and are 

 also less fearful of man ; for the savage inhabitants of those 

 countries, instead of attempting to subdue this powerful animal, 

 and render him subservient to their necessities, seem only desi- 

 rous of avoiding his anger. In the countries near the Cape, 

 elephants are seen in large herds, consisting of many hundreds ; 



