ANIMALS. ilo 



with attention, and executes them with prudence, eagerly, yet 

 without precipitation. All its motions are regulated, and its 

 actions seem to partake of its magnitude; being grave, majestic, 

 and secure. It is quickly taught to kneel down, to receive its 

 rider; it caresses those it knows with its trunk ; with this salutes 

 such as it is ordered to distinguish, and with this, as with a hand, 

 lielps to take up a part of its load. It suffers itself to be arrayed 

 in harness, and seems to take a pleasure in the finery of its trap- 

 pings. It draws either chariots, cannon, or shipping, with sur. 

 prising strength and perseverance ; and this with a seeming 

 satisfaction, provided that it be not beaten without a cause, and 

 that its master appears pleased with its exertions.* 



separated by the himters, and driven into smaller inclosures, where tney are 

 fettered with ropes. 



When tlie elephant has been secured to a tree, he is tended by a miihout, 

 and three or four cooHev, who supply him witli food and water, and endea- 

 vour to attach him by kmd treatment, driving away the flies, and scratching 

 liis head and trunlv with a coarse kind of broom, made by splitting one end of 

 a long bamboo into many pieces ; frequently also squirting ^ater over him, 

 to refresh him. By degrees he allows his keeper to approach and pat him 

 gently, at whieli time he is talked to in a soothing tone : in a short time an 

 acquaintance is formed between them, and the mahout gets on his back from 

 a tame elephant, and, as the animal becomes more submissive, gradually 

 comes forward to his neck, which is the driver's usual seat. During this 

 period he is occasionally led out for exercise by the tame elephants, aud in 

 five or six weeks obeys the orders of his keeper, after which tlie cords are 

 gradually removed, and in the course of six or seven months he is suffi- 

 ciently subdued to be led about from place to place by liis mahout ; care 

 however, being taken that he is not brought to his old haunts, lest he might 

 endeavour to escape. 



* The Duke of Devonshire, having been asked by a lady of rank what 

 she should send him from India, and having laugliingly aiiswered, " Oh, 

 nothing smaller than an eleiihant," was surprised to find, at the expiration 

 of some months, a very handsome female of the species consigned to his 

 care. 



The Duke of Devonshire's elephant was kept at his grace's villa at Chis. 

 wick, under circumstances peculiarly favourable to its healtli and docility. 

 The house in which she was shut up was of large dimensions, well venti- 

 lated, and arranged in every particular with a proper regard to the comfort 

 of the animal. But she often had the range of a spacious paddock ; and the 

 exhibition of her sagacity was therefore doubly pleasing, for it wa.s evidently 

 not effected by rigid confinement. At the voice of her keeper she came out 

 of her house, aud immediately took up a broom, ready to perforin his bid- 

 ding in sweeping the paths or the grass. She would follow him round the 

 inclosnre with a pail or a watering-pot, showing her readiness to take that 

 share of labour which the elephants of the East are so willing to perform. 

 Her reward was a carrot and some water ; but previously to satisfyinjf her 



