50 ANIMAL SKETCHES. CHAP 



jaws. But in the end cunning and agility prevail over 

 brute force, and their huge prey lies quivering at the 

 Arabs' feet. 



According to the Rev. Mr. Bingley the Egyptians manage 

 things much more simply. They mark out the places 

 which the hippopotamus chiefly frequents, and there 

 deposit a quantity of dried peas. Stumpy prowling 

 around that way fills himself with the peas ; hence arises 

 an insupportable thirst ; he rushes to the river and drinks 



copiously; the peas swell and the poor beast But 



I think we may draw a veil over the last scene of this 

 tragedy. When sufficiently young and tender his skin 

 we are told makes excellent turtle soup. 



Every one knows a number of anecdotes in illustration 

 of the sagacity of the elephant. It will therefore, perhaps, 

 be a surprise to hear that Sir Samuel Baker, who knows 

 the elephant so well, says that in his opinion he is over- 

 rated. "He can be educated to perform certain acts, but 

 he would never volunteer his services. There is no 

 elephant that I ever saw," writes Sir Samuel, " who would 

 spontaneously interfere to save his master from drowning 

 or from attack. An enemy might assassinate you at the 

 feet of your favourite elephant, but he would never attempt 

 to interfere in your defence ; he would probably run away 

 or remain impassive, unless guided and instructed by his 

 mahout. This is incontestable ; the elephant will do 

 nothing useful unless he is specially ordered to perform a 

 certain work or movement. While condemning his 

 apathetic character, however, we must admit that in the 

 elephant the power of learning is extraordinary, and that 

 it can be educated to perform wonders." 



Without presuming either to support or gainsay the 

 opinion of one who is so intimately acquainted with the 

 elephant, I would suggest that we are apt to expect too 



