THE ELEPHANT. 79 



a sufficient number to show its superiority over the rest of the 

 brute creation. Some of the actions of this surprising animal 

 might indeed almost seem to be the effects of a portion of intel- 

 lect, rather than of mere instinct. 



Among several anecdotes, communicated by the Marquis de 

 Montmirail, we find that the cornac, or conductor of an ele- 

 phant, had excited the animal to make an extraordinary effort, 

 by showing him a vessel of arrack, which he pointed out as 

 his reward ; but when he had performed his arduous task, the 

 elephant had the mortification of seeing himself disappointed 

 of his expected recompense; and, impatient of being thus 

 mocked, immediately killed his governor. 



The man's wife, who was a spectator of thi& dreadful catas- 

 trophe, in a fit of agonizing grief, took her two little infants arid 

 threw them at the feet of -the enraged animal, saying, " Since 

 you have destroyed my husband, kill me also and my children." 

 The elephant immediately stopped, and, as if stung with re- 

 morse, took up the eldest boy with his trunk, placed him on his 

 neck, and would never afterwards obey any other governor. It 

 is here to be observed, that the elephant is extremely fond of 

 spirituous liquors, as well as of wine, and the sight of a vessel 

 filled with these liquors, and promised as a reward, will induce 

 him to make the most extraordinary exertions, and perform the 

 most painful tasks ; and to disappoint him is dangerous, and his 

 revenge is almost certain. But if he be vindictive, he is equally 

 grateful, and will suffer no kindness shown him to go unrewarded. 

 A soldier of Pondicherry, who frequently carried one of these 

 creatures a certain measure of arrack, being one day a little in- 

 toxicated, and seeing himself pursued by the guard, who were 

 about to conduct him to prison, took refuge under the elephant, 

 where he fell sound asleep. The guard attempted in vain to take 

 him from this asylum, the elephant defending him with his trunk. 

 The next day, the soldier becoming sober, was terrified at seeing 

 himself placed under so enormous an animal ; but the elephant 

 caressed him with his trunk, to remove his fears, and make him 

 understand that he might depart in safety. 



The elephant is sometimes seized with a sort of phrenzy, 

 which renders him extremely formidable so that on the first 

 symptoms of madness, he is commonly killed, in order to pre- 

 vent mischief: yet in these fits he has frequently been known to 

 distinguish his benefactors; so strongly are gratitude and mag- 

 nanimity impressed on his nature. 



The elephant that was kept in the menagerie at Versailles, 

 always discerned when any person designed to make a fool of 

 him, and always remembered an affront, which he never failed 

 to revenge at the first opportunity Having been cheated by a 



