146 PACHYDERMATA. 



Though captured in India, and reduced to servitude, and ex- 

 tensively hunted in Africa, on account of his tusks, the Elephant 

 is still found in great numbers in remote, secluded districts of the 

 East, where large streams or rivers running through a wide and 

 level region, are fringed by a luxuriant vegetation. A traveler 

 who accompanied some Elephant hunters in South Africa, was 

 told by an experienced hunter that he had seen as many as three 

 thousand in a troop, ranging along the banks of the Fish river. 

 " A herd of Elephants," says Pringle, " browsing in majestic tran- 

 quility amidst the wild magnificence of an African landscape, is 

 a very noble sight, and one of which I shall never forget the im- 

 pression." Sometimes they "tear up immense numbers of mi- 

 mosa trees, sprinkled over grassy meadows, which border the 

 river's margin." Of the soft and juicy roots of these and other 

 trees, they are very fond. In overturning the trees, they some- 

 times employ their tusks as we do a crowbar, thrusting them un- 

 der the roots to weaken their hold of the earth, and facilitate the 

 work of tearing up the trees with their proboscis. 



The Elephant is known to have a strong relish for sweetmeats 

 and arrack, a spirituous liquor distilled from rice ; and by these 

 things is occasionally encouraged to perform tasks requiring 

 great skill and labor. In plantations of sugar cane, he revels 

 with great delight. Sometimes he adopts curious methods to grat- 

 ify his love of sweet things. "It chanced that a Cooley, laden 

 with jaggery, which is a coarse preparation of sugar, was sur- 

 prised in a narrow pass in the kingdom of Candy, by a wild Ele- 

 phant. The poor fellow, intent upon saving his life, threw down 

 the burthen, which the Elephant devoured; and being well 

 pleased with the repast, determined not to allow any person egress 

 or ingress who did not provide him with a similar banquet. The 

 pass formed one of the principal thoroughfares to the capital; and 

 the Elephant taking up a formidable position at the entrance, 

 obliged every passenger to pay tribute. It soon became known 

 that a donation of jaggery would ensure a safe conduct through 

 the guarded portal, and no one presumed to attempt the passage 

 without the expected offering." 



The Elephant possesses all the senses in great perfection ; that 

 of smelling is in him exquisite. He is not often bred in captivity, 

 it being found more advantageous to take a well grown animal 

 from a wild herd, and discipline it for service. In captivity, it is 

 very docile and gentle, but when provoked will take full revenge. 

 This, some who visit menageries have found out to their sorrow. 

 All Elephants are fond of the water, and sometimes submerge 

 themselves, so far that nothing but the end of their trunk remains 



