20 THE ELEPHANT. 



an aspect of revenge and insult, held out to them the 

 body of their companion, writhing in the agonies of 

 death. 



No animal is more useful to man than the Elephant. 

 When domesticated, and trained to labour, he becomes 

 the most gentle and obedient of all beasts; and his 

 strength and power are such as to enable him to perform 

 infinitely more work than the horse. He kneels down 

 at command to receive his conductor, who rides upon 

 his shoulder, and guides his course by means of a pointed 

 iron rod. In the eastern countries he is usually fed 

 on rice mixed with water. The trunk, or proboscis, of 

 the Elephant is a very wonderful member. Furnished 

 with a kind of finger at its extremity, and flexible in. 

 almost every direction, it serves to the animal all the 

 purposes of a hand. There are, perhaps, few persons 

 who have visited London of late years, that have not 

 seen the dexterity with which the Elephant, at Exeter 

 'Change, employs this member, in the opening and shut- 

 ting of bolts, untying of knots in ropes, taking off people's 

 hats, and picking up money from the floor. He can 

 equally grasp with it a broom-stick, and gather up a straw. 

 The following well-authenticated anecdotes of the Ele- 

 phant will probably afford some amusement, at the same 

 time that they may convey some instruction to the juve- 

 nile reader. 



An Elephant was one day employed in thrusting 

 from the shore into the water a vessel, the weight and 

 size of which were so great, that he could scarcely 

 move it. " Take away that lazy beast," said his master, ! 

 in a sarcastic tone, to the keeper, " and bring another." 

 The poor animal instantly renewed his efforts with 

 additional force, fractured his skull, and died on the 

 spot. 



