134 Q^U ADRUPEDS. 



The fole of the foot is furnifhed with a fkin as thick and hard as horn. 

 which completely covers the under part of the foot. Its two enormous 

 tufks are unferviceable for chewing, and only weapons of defence, Th.efe, 

 as the animal grows old, become fo heavy, that it is fometimes obliged 

 to make holes in the walls of its ftall to eafe itfelf of the fatigue of their 

 fupport. They proceed from the upper jaw, and are fometimes fix feet 

 long. 



The elephant is only native of Africa and Afia : there are none in the 

 northern parts of Africa at prefent. In Africa, thelargeft do not exceed 

 ten feet high; in Afia they are found from ten to fifteen. The ufual 

 colour of the elephant is a dufky black, but fome are faid to be white; 

 and thefe are ineftimable. The elephant never breeds in a ftate of fervitude. 



To take them v/ild, a fpot of ground is fixed on, \yhich is furround- 

 ed with a ftrong pallifade, made of the thickeft and ftrongeft trees, and 

 ftrengthened by crofs bars. Polls are fixed at fuch diftances, that a man 

 can eafily pafs between ; only one great paflage is left open, which fhuts 

 behind when the bead is entered. A female elephant is conduced into 

 the heart of the forefi;, where it is obliged by its keeper to cry out for the 

 male, who readily anfwers and haftens to join her: the keeper obliges 

 her to retreat, repeating the cry, till (he leads the animal into the enclo- 

 furc, which grows narrower all the way, till he finds himfelf completely 

 Ihut up. After a day and a night, its indignation fubfides. In a fort- 

 night it is completely tamed. The elephant, when tamed, becomes gentle 

 and obedient; conceives an attachment for its attendant, carefies, 

 obeys him, and frequently takes fuch an affcflion to its keeper, that it 

 will obey no other. Receives his orders with attention, executes them 

 with prudence, eagerly, yet without precipitation. Kneels down to re- 

 ceive its rider. Seems to take a pieafure in the finery of its trappings. 

 Can carry on its back three or four thoufand weight; on its tufks alone 

 can fupport near a thoufand. Its ordinary pace is as faft as a horfe 

 can eafily trot; when pufhed, it can move as fwifdy as a horfe at full 

 gallop. Can travel with eafe fifty or fixty cniles a day. 



THE 



