* LETTER XXIU. 



Man, and tutored by his -instructions, the noble animal 

 submits to the most painful drudgery, and is so atten- 

 tive to the commands of its master, that a word or a 

 look is sufficient to stimulate him to extraordinary 

 exertion. 



Of all the animals that -have been subjugated by 

 fhe human race, the elephant is universally allowed 

 to be the most tractable and obedient. When treated 

 frith kindness, he testifies his gratitude by fulfilling 

 all the desires of his keeper, caresses him with affec- 

 tionate fondness, receives his commands with atten- 

 tion, ami executes them with punctuality and zeal. 

 He bends the knee for the accommodation of those 

 w fio wish to mount upon his back, sutlers himseif to 

 lie harnessed, and seems to delight in the finery of hirf 

 trappings. 



These animals are used in drawing chariots, wag- 

 $er^, and various sort;} of machines, one elephant 

 i! rowing as much as six horses, and are of great use 

 in carrying great quantities of luggage across rivers. 

 They can travel near a hundred miles a day, and fifty 

 c-?r sixty regularly, without any violent effort. 

 The -elephant is as magnanimous as he is mild, and 

 ever willing to exert his -extraordinary strength. We 

 are told that in India, where these creatures were 

 once employed in launching ships, one of them was 

 /directed to force into the water a large vessel, which 

 proving a task superior to his strength, the master said 

 in an angry tone, " Take away that lazy beast and 

 'bring another." The poor elephant immediately re- 

 doubled its efforts, fractured its skull, and died on the 

 spot. 



The Indians have from time immemorial -employed 

 elephants in their v.ars: Porus, with eighty -five of 

 them, opposed Alexander's passage over the Ilydas- 

 pes. M. Biition, with very great appearance of pro- 

 bability, supposes that it was some of the elephants 

 ta-ken by tiv.-.t monarch in nis Indian expedition, ancj 

 transp'irTcu into (rrt-ece, that Pyrrbus afterwards 

 brought against the Romans. Since the introduction 

 of tire-anus, ho\vever, 'elephant* have been of little 



