OF NATURAL HISTORY. ^4-9 



creature forward, or to make him turn. But words are com- 

 monly fufficient. The attachment and afFeftion of the ele- 

 phant are fometlmes fo flrong and durable that he has been 

 known to die of grief, when, in an unguarded paroxyfm of 

 rage, he had killed his guide. 



Before the invention of gun-powder,, elephants were em- 

 ployed in war by the African and Afiatic nations. * From 



* time immemorial,' fays Schouten, * the Kings of Ceylon, 



* of Pegu, and of Aracan, have ufed elephants in war. Nak- 

 < ed fabres were tied to their trunks, and on their backs 

 f were fixed fmall wooden caftles, which contained five 



* or fix men armed with javelins, and other weapons *.* 

 The Greeks and Romans, however, foon became acquainted 

 with the nature of thefe monftrous warriors. They opened 

 their ranks to let the animals pafs, and directed all their 

 weapons, not againft thp elephants, but their conductors. 

 Since fire has now become the element of war, and the chief 

 inftrument of defl:ru£l:ion, elephants, who are terrified both 

 at the flame and the noife, would be more dangerous than 

 ufeful in our modern battles. Th^ Indian Kings, however, 

 ftill arm elephants in their wars. In Cochin, and other parts 

 of Malabar, all the warriors who fight not on foot are mount- 

 ed on elephants f , The fame practice obtains in Tonquin, 

 Siam, and Pegu. In thefe countries, the kings and nobles at 

 public feftivals are always preceded and followed by nume- 

 rous trains of elephants, pompoufly adorned with pieces of 

 Ihining metal, aud clothed with rich garments. Their tulks 

 are ornamented with rings of gold and filver ; their ears and 

 cheeks are painted with various colours ; they are crowned 

 with garlands •, and a number of fmall bells are fixed to dif- 

 ferent parts of their bodies. They delight in gaudy attire ; 

 for they are chearful and carefling in proportion to the num- 



• Voyage de Schouten, page 32. 

 t Thevcnot, torn. 3. page 261. 



