THE FARMER AT HOME. J45 



creatures, and in understanding he is inferior only to man. Of all 

 the brute creation, the elephant, the dog, the ape, and the beaver, are 

 most admirable for their sagacity ; but the genius of the dog is only 

 borrowed, being instructed by man in almost every thing he knows ; 

 the monkey has only the appearance of wisdom, and the beaver is 

 only sensible with regard to himself, and those of his species. The 

 elephant is superior to them all three ; he unites all their most emi- 

 nent qualities. The hand is the principal organ of the monkey's 

 dexterity ; the elephant with his trunk, which serves him instead of 

 arms and hands, with which he can lift up, and seize the smallest, as 

 well as the largest objects, carry them to his mouth, place them on 

 his back, hold them, or throw them far off, has the same dexterity as 

 the monkey, and at the same time the tractableness of the dog ; he 

 is like him susceptible of gratitude, and capable of a strong attach- 

 ment ; he uses himself to man without reluctance, and submits to 

 him, not so much by force, as by good treatment ; he serves him with 

 zeal, intelligence, and fidelity ; in fine, the elephant, like the beaver, 

 loves the society of his equals, and makes them understand him. 



In regions where our cannons and murdering arts are yet scarcely 

 known, men fight still with elephants. At Cochin, and in parts of 

 Malabar, they do not make use of horses, and all those who do not 

 fight on foot are mounted upon elephants. In Tonquin, Siam, and 

 Pegu, the king, and all the grandees, never ride but upon elephants ; 

 on festival days they are preceded and followed by a great number of 

 these animals richly caparisoned, and covered with the richest stuffs. 

 On comparing the relations of travellers and historians, it appears that 

 the elephants are more numerous in Africa than in Asia ; they are 

 there also less mistrustful, not so wild, and, as if they knew the un- 

 skilfulness and the little power of the men with whom they have to 

 deal in this part of the world, come every day without fear to their 

 habitations. 



If the elephant is vindictive, he is no less grateful. A soldier of 

 Pondicherry, who commonly carried to one of these animals a certain 

 measure of arrack every time that he received his pay, having one 

 day drank more than common, and seeing himself pursued by the 

 guard, who threatened to conduct him to prison, took refuge under 

 the elephant, and slept there. It was in vain that the guard 

 attemped to draw him out from his asylum ; the elephant defended 

 him with his trunk. The next day the soldier, become sober, was 

 struck with terror to lie under an animal of this enormous bulk. The 

 elephant, who, no doubt, perceived his consternation, caressed him 

 with his trunk, to remove his fears, and made him understand that 

 he might depart freely. 



ELK. This animal dwells in the northeastern parts of Europe, 

 in Asia, and North America, chiefly frequenting the colder climates. 

 In the latter country it is called the moose deer, or wampoose by the 

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