404 THE ELEPHAJfT. [Part VIII. 



enough to drive the spectator out of his senses ; when the strewn 

 rushes and other materials for beds on the ground were placed 

 on the sand of the theatre, and they received stuffed mattresses 

 such as belonged to rich houses and variegated bed coverings, 

 and goblets were placed there very expensive, and bowls of gold 

 and silver, and in them a great quantity of water ; and tables 

 were placed there of sweet-smelling wood and ivory very superb ; 

 and upon them flesh meats and loaves enough to fill the stomachs 

 of animals the most voracious. When the preparations were com- 

 pleted and abundant, the banqueters came forward, six male and 

 an equal number of female elephants ; the former had on a male 

 dress, and the latter a female ; and on a signal being given they 

 stretched forward their trunks in a subdued manner, and took 

 their food in great moderation, and not one of them appeared to 

 be gluttonous, greedy, or to snatch at a greater portion, as did 

 the Persian mentioned by Xenophon. And when it was requi- 

 site to drink, a bowl was placed by the side of each ; and inhaling 

 with their trunks they took a draught very orderh^ ; and then 

 they scattered the drink about in fun ; but not as in insult. 

 Many other acts of a similar kind, both clever and astonishing, 

 have persons described, relating to the peculiarities of these 

 animals, and I saw them writing letters on Roman tablets with 

 their trunks, neither looking awry nor turning aside. The hand, 

 however, of the teacher was placed so as to be a guide in the 

 formation of the letters ; and while it was writing the animal 

 kept its eye fixed down in an accomplished and scholarlike 

 manner.'' 



