1.14. NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Effects of an elephant's fury Defence of a soldier. 



i, one of the three must sacrifice his life; and 

 that he would willingly yield his own for the pre- 

 servation of the other two. In return, he only 

 intreated that the king would provide for his 

 family after his death. This being promised, he 

 immediately threw himself under the feet of the 

 animal; who seized him with his trunk, and 

 trampled him .to death. The elephant soon 

 seemed to repent of this rash action, and without 

 any further difficulty, became perfectly quiet and 

 submissive. The grateful monarch provided 

 munificently for the wife and family of the faith- 

 ful fellow who had so cheerfully sacrificed his life 

 for the preservation of himself and son. 



It also appears from indubitable authority, that 

 a soldier at Pondicherry, who was accustomed to 

 give part of his victuals to one of these animals, 

 having one day drank too freely, and finding 

 himself pursued by the guards, took refuge under 

 the elephant's body and fell asleep. In vain did 

 the guard endeavour to force him from this asy- 

 lum, for the elephant resolutely protected him. 

 Next morning, the soldier, recovering from his 

 intoxication, shuddered with horror to find him- 

 self under the belly of this huge animal, but the 

 elephant immediately began caressing him with 

 his trunk, to make him understand that he might 

 now depart in safety. 



M. le Baron de Lauriston, during one of the 

 late wars in India, was induced to go to Laknaor, x 

 at a time when an epidemic distemper was mak- 



