THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA. 123 



introducing any in illustration of its disposition 

 or docility ; for, indeed, we scarcely know where 

 to find a new one. They have often also been 

 twisted to serve the immediate purpose of the 

 writer, or exaggerated to maintain some wonderful 

 exertion of intellect. Suffice it to say, that, look- 

 ing to all our accounts of both the known species 

 as impartially as possible, we cannot attribute a 

 greater portion of intellect to the Elephant than 

 we could to some other animals. In a wild state, 

 his actions are all guided by his passions blind 

 fury when attacked the care and comfort of 

 his body or his attachment for the female ; and 

 we have seen his passion, in this latter case, so 

 blind as actually to allow him to be taken. In 

 iiaptivity, he is docile, possesses an excellent 

 memory, and from this qualification performs 

 most of his useful labours, for without memory 

 or experience he will not undertake any new 

 operation, until it is explained. The same faculty 

 makes him revenge bad treatment, and long 

 remember it. At the periodical seasons, he 

 becomes almost as infuriated as when wild, and 

 will at times not even obey his keeper or his 

 favourites ; and it is necessary, at this time, even 

 to allow the animal his liberty to range in the 

 jungle, whence he will again return, of his own 

 accord, to the charge and company of his 

 keepers. 



