THE KLEPHANT. 23 



persevering labour, to the purposes of peace and war, and 

 sold at a price proportioned to their size, and sometimes to 

 their colour : a white one they hold in the highest 

 estimation, and in some places adore it 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 uses 

 its trunk as a 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 

 acquainted with its leader ; and indeed it will seldom obey 

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

 on 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 disappointed of its expectations, was so enraged, 

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

 the horrid scene, instigated by madness or despair, imme- 

 diately threw her two little sons at the creature's feet, 

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

 also destroy her infants. The generous animal, recovering 

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

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

 and ever after obeyed him with the most scrupulous punc- 

 tuality. 



Before the destructive use of firearms 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 ; 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 thousand on 

 its trunk alone; when pushed on, it can travel nearly one 

 hundred miles a day, and without violent effort, fifty or 

 sixty. 



In India, elephants are also made the ministers of 

 penal justice. They are taught to execute criminals, 



