DOCILITY OF ANIMALS. 259 



tending to throw some food into its mouth. The animal gave 

 him such a blow with its trunk as knocked him down, and 

 broke two of his ribs. A painter wanted to draw the animal 

 in an unusual attitude, with its trunk elevated, and its mouth 

 open. The painter's servant, to make it remain in this posi- 

 tion, threw fruits into his mouth, but generally made only a 

 feint of throwing them. This conduct enraged the elephant ; 

 and, as if it knew that the painter was the cause of this teas- 

 ing impertinence, instead of attacking the servant, it eyed the 

 master, and squirted at him from its trunk, such a quantity of 

 water as spoiled the paper on which he was drawing. This 

 elephant commonly made less use of its strength than of its 

 address. It loosed, with great ease and coolness, the buckle 

 of a large double leathern strap, with which its leg was fixed ; 

 and as the servants had wrapped the buckle round with a 

 small cord, and tied many knots upon it, the creature, with 

 much deliberation, loosed the whole, without breaking either 

 the strap or the cord. 



It is remarked by Le P. Vincent Marie, that the elephant, 

 when in a domestic state, is highly esteemed for his gentle- 

 ness, docility, and friendship to his governor. When destined 

 to the immediate service of princes, he is sensible of his 

 good fortune, and maintains a gravity of demeanor correspond- 

 ing to the dignity of his situation. But if, on the contrary, 

 less honorable labors are assigned to him, he grows melan- 

 choly, frets, and evidently discovers that he is humbled 

 and depressed. He is fond of children, caresses them, and 

 appears to discern the innocence of their manners. The 

 Dutch voyagers relate, that, by giving elephants what is agree- 

 able to them, they are soon rendered perfectly tame and sub- 

 missive. They are so sagacious, that they may be said to be 

 destitute of the use of language only. They are proud and 

 ambitious ; and they are so grateful for good usage, that, as 

 a mark of respect, they bow their heads in passing houses 

 where they have been hospitably received. They allow them- 

 selves to be led and commanded by a child ; but they love 

 to be praised and caressed. When a wild e ephant is taken, 

 the hunters tie his feet, and one of them accosts and salutes 

 him, makes apologies for binding him, protests that no injury 

 is intended, tells him, that, in his former condition, he fre- 

 quently wanted food, but that, henceforward, he shall be well 

 treated, and that every promise shall be performed to him. 

 This soothing harangue is no sooner finished than the elephant 

 placidly follows the hunte From this fact, however, we 



