226 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



park,' as it was called, supposing they should see him 

 issue from his stable. All at once, however, a copious 

 shower would assail them ; and ladies with their trans- 

 parent bonnets, and gentlemen with their shining hats, 

 were forced to seek shelter under the neighbouring trees, 

 where they looked up at the cloudless sky and wondered 

 from whence the shower could come. When they di- 

 rected their eyes towards the elephant's pond, they saw 

 him standing in the midst, evincing an awkward joy at 

 the trick he had played. In process of time his pastime 

 became generally known, and the moment the water 

 rose from his trunk his beholders ran away, which he 

 also seemed to enjoy exceedingly, getting up as fast as 

 he could to behold the bustle he had created. This 

 same elephant had been landed from the vessel which 

 brought him from the East Indies at Bordeaux, and 

 the sailor lad who had taken charge of him during the 

 voyage was appointed to conduct him through France 

 to Paris. The rough and sometimes paved roads cut 

 the poor animal's feet, and a shoemaker was employed 

 to make him four boots. There was not much skill 

 required, as no shape was necessary ; but they answered 

 the purpose, and were afterwards hung up in his stable, 

 to the great delight of the younger visitants to the 

 Jardin, who often went express'y to see the elephant's 

 boots. When he and his guide stopped for the night, a 

 mattress used to be thrown down on the floor for the 

 latter ; but after a few nights the elephant discovered 

 how comfortable it was, and under pretence of sharing 

 the accommodation, at length nightly pushed Auguste 

 off, and stretched his own huge carcase upon the mat- 

 tress. 



Constant differences between the Asiatic and African 



