288 THE ELEPHANT. 



doubt on this statement of Mr. Rose, I wish 

 merely to point out that the multitude of paths 

 argues little or nothing, since a very small herd of 

 elephants, if left undisturbed for any length of time, 

 will produce them. Moreover, from the great bulk 

 of the animal, the space that such an immense troop 

 (three thousand) must necessarily occupy, would 

 be so extensive that it is questionable whether the 

 scope of vision could compass so vast a number, 

 more especially in a wooded locality. Indeed, I 

 scarcely know anything more deceptive, as regards 

 numbers, than a herd of animals in their native 

 wilds. 



Major Denham, again, in his journey from Mour- 

 suk to Kouka, in Bournow, speaks of an enormous 

 herd of elephants that he there fell in with. " They 

 seemed," he tells us, " to cover the face of the 

 country ; whole trees were broken down where they 

 had fed, and where they had reposed their pon- 

 derous bodies, young trees, shrubs, and underwood 

 were crushed beneath their weight." 



The favourite haunts of the elephant are deep 

 and boundless forests distant from the abodes of 

 man, and in near vicinity to rivers or foun- 

 tains ; but in districts where he is subject to 

 persecution, ho, in the day-time, retires for the 

 most part to inaccessible ravines and jungles, very 

 distant, it may be, from water, which he only visits 

 during the hours of darkness. Like the whale in 

 the ocean, the elephant on land is acquainted with, 

 and roams over, wide and extensive tracts. He is 

 extremely particular in always frequenting the 



