INDEX. 263 



war, to increase the grandeur of eastern princes, or to ex- 

 tend their dominions, 337. Is a native of Africa and Asia ; 

 still retains its natural liberty in Africa ; during the splen- 

 dour of the Carthaginian empire, they were used in the 

 wars ; no elephants found on this side Mount Atlas ; places 

 where they are in great numbers ; the greatest elephants 

 found in Asia ; their price increases in proportion to their 

 size ; the largest kept for princes ; their colour ; that ap- 

 propriated for the monarch's own riding kept in a palace, 

 attended by nobles, and almost adored by the people; 

 opinions concerning the white elephant ; the eastern prin- 

 ces maintain as many elephants as they are able, and place 

 great confidence on their assistance in an engagement ; 

 they never breed in a state of servitude, and the generative 

 powers fail when it comes under the dominion of man ; du- 

 ration of pregnancy in the female still a secret ; what Aris- 

 totle and others say concerning this and their young is 

 doubtful ; method of taking them wild in the woods ; Ne- 

 groes of Africa, who hunt this animal for its flesh, take it 

 in pit-falls ; its attachment to the person that attends it ; 

 it comprehends several of the signs made to it, distinguishes 

 the tone of command from that of anger or approbation, 

 and acts accordingly ; executing orders with prudence, 

 eagerly, yet without precipitation ; is taught to kneel down, 

 to receive its rider, usually mounted upon its neck ; ca- 

 resses those it knows, salutes such as it is ordered to distin- 

 guish, and helps to take up its load ; takes a pleasure in 

 the finery of its trappings ; draws chariots, cannon, or ship- 

 ping with strength, and perseverance, and satisfaction, 

 provided it be not corrected without a cause, and that its 

 master be pleased with its exertions ; in what manner the 

 conductor guides it ; frequently takes such an affection to 

 its keeper, as to obey no other ; has been known to die of 

 grief for killing its conductor in a fit of madness ; surpris- 

 ing instance of moderation in its fury ; a word sufficient to 

 put it into motion, 334?. A century or two ago, the Indian 

 generals placed great dependence upon the number and the 

 expertness of their elephants ; of late they are little used, 

 except for drawing cannon, and transporting provisions ; 

 still they are used in war in Siam, in Cochin-China, in 

 Tonquin, and Pegu ; in what manner armed and led to 

 battle ; effects of its fury in the field ; those placed upon 

 its back in a square tower, combat as from an eminence, 

 and fling down their weapons with double force ; nothing 

 more dreadful, or more irresistible, than such moving ma- 

 chines, to men unacquainted with the modern arts of war ; 

 Romans quickly learned the art of opening their ranks to 

 admit the elephant, and separating it from assistance, com- 

 pelled its conductors to calm the animal's fury, and to sub- 



