448 THE PHILOSOPHY 



his commands. He learns to comprehend ligns, and even to 

 underftand the expreffion of founds. He diftinguiilies the 

 tones of command, of anger> and of approbation, and regu- 

 lates his actions by his perceptions. The voice of his maf- 

 ter he never miftakes. His orders are executed with alacri- 

 ty, but without any degree of precipitation. His movements 

 are always meafured and fedate, and his character feems to 

 correfpond with the gravity of his mafs. To accommodate 

 thofe who mount him, he readily learns to bend his knees. 

 With his trunk he falutes his friends, ufes it for raifing bur- 

 dens, and affifts in loading himfelf. He loves to be clothed, 

 and feems to be proud of gaudy trappings. In the fouthern 

 regions, h$ is employed in drawing waggons, ploughs, artd 

 chariots. < I was eye-witnefs,* fays P. Philippe, < to the fol- 



* lowing fa(Sts. At Goa, there are always fome elephants em- 



* ployed in the building of fhips. I one day went to the fide 



* of the river, near which a large fliip was building in the 



* city of Goa, where there is a large area filled with beams 



* for that purpofe. Some men tie the ends of the heaviefl 



* beams with a rope, which is handed to the elephant, who 



* carries it to his mouth, and, after twifting it round his trunk, 

 « draws it, without any conductor, to the place where the fhip 



* is building, though it had only once been pointed out to 



* him. He fometimes drew beams fo large that more than 



* twenty men would have been unable to move. But, what 

 < furprifed me ftill more, when other beams obftru^ed the 



* road, he elevated the ends of his own beams,, that they might 

 « run eafily over thofe which lay in his way. Could the mofl 



* enlightened man do more *?' When at work, the elephant 

 draws equally, and, if properly managed, never turns reflive. 

 The man who conducts the animal generally rides on his 

 neck, and employs a hooked iron rod, or bodkin, with which 

 he pricks the head or fides of the ears, in order to pufh the 



* Voyage d'Orient. page 367. 



