CHAPTER XI. 



MANY Indians imagine that a human soul dwells in 

 the elephant's body. In Siam and in Pegu white ele- 

 phants are regarded as the living manes of Indian 

 emperors. These animals, exempt from all service, live 

 in palaces, are served by numerous domestics, eat the 

 choicest food out of golden vessels, and are clothed 

 with magnificent ornaments. They must not bend their 

 knees, except before the emperor, who returns their 

 salute. Notwithstanding so much adulation, they re- 

 main gentle and obedient. If the Indians would take 

 the trouble to reflect, this last circumstance would 

 demonstrate to them that elephants are not animated 

 by human inspiration. They are but beasts, in fact, 

 but they are the wisest of all beasts. None surpass 

 them either in intelligence, address, strength, or doci- 

 lity; none leave in the hands of the hunter a spoil 

 more choice or precious ; and hence the motives for 

 which man declares war on them. 



In India the hunting of the elephant has for its end 



