PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 



BOOK VIII 



I. Let us pass to the rest of the animals, and first 

 those that hve on land. ult^^ 



The largest land animal is the elephant, and it is ammais. 

 the nearest to man in intelligence : it understands p^an^^rjj^ 

 the lanffuasre of its countrv and obevs orders, remem- n^^riy 

 bers duties that it has been taught, is pleased by teUigence. 

 affection and by marks of honour, nay more it 

 possesses virtues rare even in man, honesty, wis- 

 dom, justice, also respect for the stars and reverence 

 for the sun and moon. Authorities state that in 

 the forests of Mauretania, when the new moon is 

 shining, herds of elephants go down to a river named 

 Amilo and there perform a ritual of purification, 

 sprinkHng themselves with water, and after thus 

 paying their respects to the moon return to the 

 woods carrying before them those of their calves 

 who are tired. They are also beHeved to understand 

 the obHgations of another's reHgion in so far as to 

 refuse to embark on board ships when going overseas 

 before they are lured on by the mahout's sworn 

 promise in regard to their return. And they have 

 been seen when exhausted by suffering (as even 

 those vast frames are attacked by diseases) to He 

 on their backs and throw grass up to the heaven, 



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