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I.ETTEB XXI 1 1. 



fectly known. Aristotle, howeVer, assigns two years to 

 this period. T^is extraordinary quadruped is thirty 

 years in arriving at its full growth, and lives even in 

 a state of captivity a hundred and twenty years : in a 

 state of natural freedom the duration of its life is sup- 

 posed to be much farther extended. 



In regard to the elephant's cli.scernrnerft and saga- 

 city, stories have been related that might seem incre- 

 dible, and of which some are undoubtedly fictitious. 

 Or such, however, as are so well authenticated as not 

 to admit of a possibility of doubt, we have a sufficient 

 number to shew its superiority over the rest of the 

 brute creation. Some of the actions of this surpris- 

 ing animal might indeed almost seem to be the effects 

 of a portion of intellect rather than of mere instinct. 



Among several anecdotes communicated by the 

 Marquis de Montmirail, we find that the cornac, or 

 conductor of an elephant, had excited the animal to 

 make an extraordinary effort, by shewing him a ves- 

 sel of arrack, which he pointed out as his reward; but 

 when he had performed his arduous task, the ele- 

 phant had the mortification of seeing himself disap- 

 pointed of his t-xpectcd recompence ; and, impatient of 

 being thus mocked, immediately killed his governor. 



The man's wife, who was a spectator of this dread- 

 ful catastrophe, in a tit of agonizing grief, took her 

 two little infants anil threw them at the feet of the 

 enraged animal, saying, " Since you have destroyed 

 my husband, kill me also and my children/' The 

 elephant immediate! v stopped, and,- as if stung with 

 remorse, took up the eldest boy with his trunk, placed 

 him on his neck, and would never afterwards obey 

 any other governor. It is here to be observed, that 

 the elephant is extremely fond of spirituous liquors, 

 as well as of wine, and the sight of a vessel filled 

 wi ih these liquor-,, and promisevl as ar reward, wilt in- 

 duce him to make the most extraordinary exertions 

 aad perform the niosfc painful tasks; and to disappoint 

 him is dangeroas, and his revenge is almost certain. 

 But if he be vindictive, he rs eqivaMy grateful, and 

 vrUi suiier no kindness sJUew -hk to go tittle warded-. 



