HISTORY OF THE ELEPHANT. 131 



for their weight and strength tell equally in traction ; and 

 in this respect their strength tells much more in proportion 

 to the strength of horses or bullocks than it does in carry- 

 ing. In using a team of horses, the proportional expense 

 increases, and that at a rapid rate, in proportion to the 

 number used. The reason of this is obvious : the horses 

 cannot by possibility pull exactly together, however nicely 

 they may be matched in point of size and strength. This 

 will hold good in the case of two, and much more in the 

 case of a greater number ; so that the greater the number 

 in every horse team, the greater the expense of every 

 pound weight that team pulls along. This is a disadvan- 

 tage in tke employment of combinations of small animals 

 of which no ingenuity and skill can get the better ; and 

 though it is not very apparent in countries which are in- 

 tersected in every direction by roads planned on the most 

 scientific principles and executed and kept in repair in the 

 best manner (which might be, if it is not, the case in 

 England) ; yet if we are to suppose a country where such 

 roads cannot be generally made or maintained, then we 

 can understand something of the value of such an animal 

 as the elephant. 



There was a time when most of the merchandise 

 and produce which was carried inland in England, had 

 to be carried on pack horses ; and then if the distance 

 was a hundred miles, or even fifty, the price of the car- 

 riage was nearly equal to that of the common produce of 

 the earth ; and thus, the several districts of the country 

 were cut off from each other ; and it was no uncommon 

 occurrence for the people of one district to be dying of 

 famine, while there was an abundant surplus in another 

 district, but no means of bringing that surplus to the 

 needy, of which the expense couH at all be borne. 



Many instances of this kindliness of temper have been 

 related by persons of veracity, who are familiar with the 



