ELEPHANT. 4*1 



times, however, a straggler is assailed by the hunters : and 

 even in this case, it is necessary to employ stratagem as 

 well as the force of arms ; for, should the hunter miss his 

 aim, and fail to secure a timely retreat, the enraged ani- 

 mal presently discovers its assailant, rushes on him, strikes 

 him with its tusks, seizes him with its trunk, tosses him 

 in the air, and, watching his fall, tramples him to death. 

 Many fatal instances of this kind are recorded by travel- 

 lers ; and a very striking one may be found in Van Ileenen's 

 Journal of an expedition in quest of the unfortunate crew 

 of the Grosvenor East-Indiaman. 



In their natural state, elephants delight in frequenting 

 the banks of rivers, and moist situations, environed with 

 the thickest woods. They always disturb the water be- 

 fore drinking ; and often fill their trunks with it, spouting 

 it out in the manner of a fountain, for amusement or 

 revenge. 



In the city of Delhi, as an elephant was passing along 

 the streets, it put its trunk into a tailor's shop, where one 

 of the men at work pricked it with a needle, to please 

 himself and his comrades with the fiolic. The animal dis- 

 guised its resentment at the time : but, proceeding to a 

 dirty puddle, filled his trunk, and, returning to the spot, 

 spouted the contents on the offending tailors ; thus amply 

 revenging the insult it had received. 



In Africa elephants are perhaps the most numerous, but 

 in Asia they are the largest and most useful to man. In 

 India particularly, they are inured, by regular and per- 

 severing labour, to the purposes of peace and war ; and 

 are sold at prices proportioned to their size, and some- 

 times to their colour : a white one is held in the highest 

 estimation, and in some places is adored by the native 

 Indians as a divinity. 



When the elephant is once tamed, it is the most gentle 

 and obedient of all animals. Its attachment to its keeper 

 is remarkable ; and it seems to live but to serve and obey 

 him. It is quickly taught to kneel in order to receive its 

 rider; caresses those with whom it is acquainted; and 



