406 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 



manifests an intelligence and dexterity which are surprising to a 

 stranger, because the sameness of the operation enables the 

 animal to go on for hours disposing of log after log, almost 

 without a hint or direction from his attendant. For example, 

 two elephants employed in piling ebony and satin wood in the 

 yards attached to the commissariat stores at Colombo, were so 

 accustomed to their work, that they were able to accomplish 

 it with equal precision and with greater rapidity than if it had 

 been done by dock-labourers. When the pile attained a certain 

 height, and they were no longer able by their conjoint efforts 

 to raise one of the heavy logs of ebony to the summit, they had 

 been ta^lght to lean two pieces against the heap, up the inclined 

 plane of which they gently roiled the remaining logs, and 

 placed them trimly on the top. 



It has been asserted that in their occupations ' elephants are 

 to a surprising extent the creatures of habit,' that their move- 

 ments are altogether mechanical, and that ' they are annoyed 

 by any deviation from their accustomed practice, and resent 

 any constrained departure from the regularity of their course.' 

 So far as my own observation goes, this is incorrect ; and I am 

 assured by officers of experience, that in regard to changing his 

 treatment, his hours or his occupation, an elephant evinces no 

 more consideration than a horse, but exhibits the same pliancy 

 and facihty. 



At one point, however, the utility of the elephant stops 

 short. Such is the intelligence and earnestness he displays in 

 work, which he seems to conduct almost without supervision, 

 that it has been assumed that he would continue his labour, 

 and accomplish his given task, as well in the absence of his 

 keeper as during his presence. But here his innate love of 

 ease displays itself, and if the eye of his attendant be withdrawn, 

 the moment he has finished the thing immediately in hand, he 

 will stroll away lazily, to browse or enjoy the luxury of fanning 

 himself and blowing dust over his back. 



The means of punishing so powerful an animal is a question 

 of difficulty to his attendants. Force being almost inapplicable, 

 they try to work on his passions and feelings, by such ex- 

 pedients as ahering the nature of his food or withholding it 

 altogether for a time. On such occasions the demeanour of the 

 creature will sometimes evince a sense of humiliation as well 

 as of discontent. In some parts of India it is customary, in 

 dealing with offenders, to stop their allowance of sugar canes 

 or of jaggery; or to restrain them from eating their own share 

 of fodder and leaves till their companions shall have finished ; 



