THE ELEPHANT. 343 



When this fails, it often gathers up the dust with 

 its trunk, and thus covers all the sensible places. 

 In this manner, it has been seen to dust itself 

 several times a day, and particularly upon leaving 

 the bath. 



Water is as necessary to this animal as food 

 itself. When in a state of nature, the elephant 

 rarely quits the banks of the river, and often 

 stands in water up to the belly. In a state of 

 servitude, the Indians take equal care to provide 

 a proper supply ; they wash it with great address ; 

 they give it all the conveniencies for lending 

 assistance to itself; they smooth the skin with a 

 pumice-stone, and then rub it over with oils, es- 

 sences, and odours. 



It is not to 'be wondered at that an animal 

 furnished with so many various advantages, both 

 of strength, sagacity, and obedience, should be 

 taken into the service of man. We accordingly 

 find that the elephant, from time immemorial, has 

 been employed either for the purposes of labour, 

 of war, or of ostentation ; to increase the gran- 

 deur of eastern princes, or to extend their do- 

 minions. We have hitherto been describing this 

 animal in its natural state ; we now come to con- 

 sider it in a different view, as taken from the 

 forest and reduced to human obedience. We 

 are now to behold this brave harmless creature as 

 learning a lesson from mankind, and instructed 

 by him in all the arts of war, massacre, and de- 

 vastation. We are now to behold this half-reason- 

 ing animal led into the field of battle, and won- 

 dering at those tumults and that madness which 



