THE ELEPHANT. 37 



go forward directly against him who offers the insult, strike him 

 with their tusks, seize him with their trunks, fling him into the air, 

 and then trample him to pieces under their feet. But they are thus 

 dreadful only when offended, and do no manner of personal injury 

 when suffered to feed without interruption. It is even known that 

 they are mindful of injuries received; and, when once molested by 

 man, seek all occasions for the future to be revenged. They srnell 

 him with their long trunks at a distance ; follow him with all their 

 speed upon the scent ; and, though slow to appearance, they are 

 soon able to come up with and destroy him. 



In their natural state, they delight to live along the sides of rivers, 

 to keep in the deepest vales, to refresh themselves in the most shady 

 forests and watery places. They cannot live far from the water ; and 

 they always disturb it before they drink. They often fill their trunk 

 with it, either to cool that organ, or to divert themselves by spirting 

 it out like a fountain. 



Their chief food is of the vegetable kind, for they loathe all kind 

 of animal diet. When one among their number happens to light 

 upon a spot of good pasture, he calls the rest, and invites them to 

 share in the entertainment ; but it must be a very copious pasture 

 indeed that can supply the necessities of the whole band. As with 

 their broad and heavy feet they sink deep wherever they go, they 

 destroy much more than they devour; so that they are frequently 

 obliged to change their quarters, and to migrate from one country 

 to another. The Indians and Negroes, who are often incommoded 

 by such visitants, do all they can to keep them away ; making loud 

 noises, and large fires round their cultivated grounds. But these 

 precautions do not always succeed ; the elephants often break 

 through their fences, destroy their whole harvest, and overturn 

 their little habitations. When they have satisfied themselves and 

 trodden down or devoured whatever lay in their way, they then re- 

 treat into the woods, in the same orderly manner in which they 

 made their irruption. 



Such are the habits of this animal, considered in a social light : 

 if we regard it as an individual, we shall find its powers still more 

 extraordinary. With a very awkward appearance, it possesses all 

 the senses in great perfection, and is capable of applying them to 

 more useful purposes than any other quadruped. The elephant, 

 as we observed, has very small eyes, when compared to the enor- 

 mous bulk of its body. But though their minuteness may at first 

 sight appear deformed, yet, when we come to examine them, they 

 are seen to exhibit a variety of expression, and to discover the va- 

 rious sensations with which it is moved. It turns them with 

 attention and friendship to its master: it seems to reflect and 

 deliberate ; and as its passions slowly succeed each other, their 

 various workings are distinctly seen. Nor is it less remarkable for 

 the excellence of its hearing. Its ears are extremely large, and 

 greater in proportion than even those of an ass. They are usually 

 dependent; but it can readily raise, and move them. They serv'e 



