422 



THE ELEPHANT. 



The Indian princes having vainly endea- 

 voured to multiply the breed of elephants, 

 like that of other animals, have been at last 

 content to separate the males from the fe- 

 males, to prevent those accesses of desire, 

 which debilitated without multiplying the 

 species. In order to take them wild in the 

 woods, a spot of ground is fixed upon, which 

 is surrounded with a strong palisade. This 

 is made of the thickest and the strongest 

 trees; and strengthened by cross bars which 

 give firmness to the whole. The posts are 

 fixed at such distances from each other, that 

 a man can easily pass between them; there 

 being only one great passage left open, 

 through which an elephant can easily come; 

 and which is so contrived as to shut behind, as 

 soon as the beast is entered. To draw him 

 into this enclosure, it is necessary first to find 

 him out in the woods; and a female elephant 

 is conducted along into the heart of the forest, 

 where it is obliged by its keeper to cry out 

 for the male. The male very readily answers 

 the cry, and hastens to join her ; which the' 

 keeper perceiving, obliges her to retreat, 

 still repeating the same cry, until she leads 

 the animal into the enclosure already describ- 

 ed, which shuts the moment he is entered. 

 Still, however, the female proceeds calling 

 and inviting, while the male proceeds forward 

 in the enclosure, which grows narrower all 

 the way, and until the poor animal finds him- 

 self completely shut up, without the power 

 of either advancing or retreating; the female 

 in the mean time being let out by a private 

 way, which she has been previously accus- 

 tomed to. The wild elephant, upon seeing 

 himself entrapped in this manner, instantly 

 attempts to use violence ; and, upon seeing 

 the hunters, all his former desires only turn 

 to fury. In the mean time, the hunters, hav- 

 ing fixed him with cords, attempt to soften his 

 indignation, by throwing buckets of water 

 upon him in great quantities, rubbing the 

 body with leaves, and pouring oil down his 

 ears. Soon after, two tame elephants are 

 brought, a male and a female, that caress the 

 indignant animal with their trunks; while 

 they still continue pouring water to refresh it. 

 At last a tame elephant is brought forward, 

 of that number which is employed in instruct- 

 ing the new-comers, and an officer riding 



upon it, in order to show the late captive that 

 it has nothing to lear. The hunters then 

 open the enclosure ; and while this creature 

 leads the captive along, two more are joined 

 on either side of it, and these compel it to 

 submit. It is then tied by cords to a massy 

 pillar, provided for that purpose, and suffer- 

 ed to remain in that position for about a day 

 and a night, until its indignation be wholly 

 subsided. The next day it begins to be some- 

 what submissive; and in a fortnight is com- 

 pletely tamed like the rest. The females are 

 taken when accompanying the males ; they 

 often come into these enclosures, and they 

 shortly after serve as decoys to the rest. 

 But the method of taking the elephant differs, 

 according to the abilities of the hunter: the 

 negroes of Africa, who hunt this animal mere- 

 ly for its flesh, are content to take it i:i pit- 

 falls; and often to pursue it in the defiles of 

 a mountain, where it cannot easily turn, and 

 so wound it from behind till it falls. 



The elephant, when once tamed, becomes 

 the most gentle and obedient of all animals. 

 It soon conceives an attachment lor the person 

 that attends it, caresses him, obeys him, and 

 seems to anticipate his desires. In a short 

 time it begins to comprehend several of the 

 signs made to it, and even the different sounds 

 of the voice; it perfectly distinguishes the 

 tone of command from that of anger or ap- 

 probation, and acts accordingly. It is seldom 

 deceived in its master's voice ; it receives his 

 orders with attention, and executes them 

 with prudence, eagerly, yet without precipi- 

 tation. All its motions are regulated, and its 

 actions seem to partake of its magnitude; 

 being grave,majestic,and secure. It is quickly 

 taught to kneel down, to receive its rider; it 

 caresses those it knows with its trunk; with 

 this.salutes such as it is ordered to distinguish, 

 and with this, as with a hand, helps to take 

 up a part of its load. It suffers itself to be 

 arrayed in harness, and seems to take a plea- 

 sure in the finery of its trappings. It draws 

 either chariots, cannon, or shipping, with 

 surprising strength and perseverance; and 

 this with a seeming satisfaction, provided that 

 it be not beaten without a cause, and that its 

 master appears pleased with its exertions. 



The elephant's conductor is usually mount- 

 ed upon its neck, and makes use of a rod of 



