OF NATURAL HISTORY. 453 



wrapped the buckle round with a fmall cord, and tied many- 

 knots upon it, the creature, with much deUberation, loofed 

 the whole, without breaking either the ftrap or the cord. 



It is remarked by le P. Vincent Marie, that the elephant, 

 when in a domeftic ftate, is highly efteemed for his gentle- 

 nefs, docility, and friendfhip to his governour. When def- 

 tined to the immediate fervice of princes, he is fenfible of 

 his good fortune, and maintains a gravity of demeanour cor- 

 refponding to the dignity of his fituation. But, if, on the 

 contrary, lefs honourable labours are ajfligned to Kim, he 

 grows melancholy, frets, and evidently difcovers that he is 

 humbled and depreiTed. He is fond of children, carefles 

 them, and appears to difcern the innocence of their manners. 

 The Dutch voyagers relate*, that by giving elephants what 

 is agreeable to them, they are foon rendered perfedlly tame 

 and fubmiffive. They are fo fagaclous, that they may be 

 faid to be deftitute of the ufe of language only. They are 

 proud and ambitious ; and they are fo grateful for good ufage, 

 that, as a mark of refpetSl, they bow their heads in paffing 

 houfes where they have been hofpitably received. They al- 

 low themfelves to be led and commanded by a child ; but 

 they love to be praifed and carefled. When a wild elephant 

 is taken, the hunters tie his feet, and one of them accofts 

 and falutes him, makes apologies for binding him, protefts 

 that no injury is intended, tells him, that, in his former con- 

 dition, he frequently wanted food, but that, henceforward, 

 he fliall be well treated, and that every promife fhall b^ per- 

 formed to him. This foothing harangue is no fooner fin- 

 ifhed than the elephant placidly follows the hunterf. 

 From this fa£l, however, we muft not conclude that the ele- 

 phant underftands language, but that, like the dog, he has a 

 ftrong difcerning faculty. He diftinguifties efteem from con- 



* Voyage dc la Compagnie des Indcs de HoUande, torn. i. page 411. 



f Voyage d'Oricnt, du P, Phillippe, page 364. 



I I i 



