4-2 ELEPHANT. 



uses its trunk as an arm and hand, to assist in taking up 

 a part of its load. 



The conductor of the elephant, who is usually mounted 

 on its neck, impels it with an iron rod: but in general a 

 word is sufficient to put it into motion, when once ac- 

 quainted with its leader; and indeed it will seldom obey 

 a stranger. There are instances, however, of its having 

 in a sudden frenzy, from supposed ill-treatment, killed 

 its keeper ; when its compunction has afterwards appeared 

 to be extreme. 



An elephant which had been trained to draw the can- 

 non of the French forces in India, being taught to expect 

 a certain reward from its conductor for the performance 

 of an arduous piece of service which it executed, and 

 being afterwards disappointed, was so enraged, that it 

 slew him. His wife, who had been a spectator of the 

 horrid scene, instigated by madness or despair, immedi- 

 ately threw her two infant sons at the creature's feet ; 

 crying out, that since it had killed her husband, it might 

 destroy them also. The generous animal, recovering from 

 its transport of passion, made a sudden pause ; and, 

 lifting the eldest with its trunk, placed him on its back, 

 and ever after obeyed him with the most scrupulous 

 punctuality. 



Before the destructive use of fire-arms was known, the 

 princes of the East placed their chief dependence in war 

 on the number and discipline of their elephants ; but now 

 they chiefly use them for parade, or as beasts of burden. 

 No animal in nature can be better adapted for the latter 

 purpose ; for it is capable of drawing with facility what 

 six horses could scarcely move ; it can support three or 

 four thousand pounds weight on its back, and one thou- 

 sand on its trunk alone ; and when urged, it can travel 

 nearly a hundred miles a day, and without violent effort, 

 fifty or sixty. 



In India, elephants are also taught to execute crimi- 

 nals ; whom they either crush with their trunks, or im- 

 pale on their tusks. But in these barbarous offices, they 



