198 CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



dicular iron bolt, which In- lifted up, pushed open the door, and then went in to the other partition, 

 w litre lie ate his breakfast. 



It wits with great difficulty that these animals had been separated, in order to be convoyed singly 

 to Paris; and, not having seen OIK- another for several months, the joy they expressed on meeting 

 again, is not to be described. Running instantly together, they uttered a cry of delight that shook the 

 whole building; and blew the air out of their trunks with violence resembling the blast of a smith's 

 bellows. The female's pleasure seemed to be the more lively : she expressed it by moving her ears 

 with astonishing rapidity, and tenderly twining her trunk around the body of the male. She laid it 

 particularly to his ear, where she held it for a considerable time motionless, and, after having folded it 

 ai;ain almut his body, she applied it to her own mouth. The male, in like manner, folded his trunk 

 around the body of the female, and the pleasure he felt seemed to be of a more sentimental kind ; for 

 lie expressed it by shedding an abundance of tears. Afterward* they had one stable in common, and 

 their mutual attachment excited much interest. 



" I once saw," says M. D'Obsonville, " two elephants employed in demolishing a wall, by the orders 

 of their coruacs, which they had previously received, and were encouraged to undertake the task by a 

 promise of fruits and brandy. They united their powers, placed their trunks together, which were 

 defended by a covering of leather, pushed against the strongest part of the wall, repeating their efforts, 

 while they carefully watched the equilibrium. At length, when sufficiently loosened, by applying their 

 whole strength, and giving a violent push) they speedily retreated out of the reach of danger, and the 

 whole wall fell to the ground." 



A soldier at Poudicherry, who was accustomed to share what he had with an elephant, having 

 drank, one day, rather too freely, and finding himself pursued by the guards, who were about to take him 

 to prison, sought refuge under the elephant's body, and fell asleep. In vain did the guard endeavour to 

 force him from his asylum, as the elephant defended him with his trunk. The next morning the 

 soldier was alarmed at his situation, but the elephant caressed him with his trunk, and allowed him to 

 depart in safety. 



A female elephant, belonging to a gentleman at Calcutta, who was ordered from the upper country 

 to Chittagong, in the route thither, broke loose from her keeper, and, making her way to the woods, 

 was lost. The keeper made every excuse to vindicate himself, which the master of the animal would 

 not listen to, but branded the man with carelessness, or something worse ; for it was instantly supposed 

 that he had sold the elephant. He was tried for it, and condemned to work on the roads for life, and 

 his wife and children were sold for slaves. About twelve years afterwards, this man, who was known to 

 be well acquainted with breaking elephants, was sent into the country with a party, to assist in catch- 

 ing wild ones. They came upon a herd, and this man fancied he saw amongst the group his long-lost 

 elephant, for which he had been condemned. He resolved to approach it, nor could the strongest 

 remonstrances of the party dissuade him from the attempt. Having reached the animal, he spoke to 

 her, when she immediately recognised his voice ; she waved her trunk in the air as a token of saluta- 

 tion, and spontaneously knelt down, and allowed him to mount her neck. She afterwards assisted in 

 taking other elephants, and decoyed three young ones, to which she had given birth in her absence. 

 The keeper returned, and the singular circumstances attending the recovery being told, he regained his 

 character ; and, as a recompense for his unmerited sufferings, had a pension settled on him for life. 

 This elephant was afterwards in possession of Warren Hastings, when governor-general of Hindostan. 



Sonnini relates that all Naples witnessed the docility of an elephant belonging to the king. He 

 atlorded great assistance to the masons who were at work on the palace, by fetching the water they 

 required in large copper vessels from a neighbouring well. He had observed that these vessels were 

 earned to the brazier's when they wanted any repair. Observing, therefore, one day, that the water 

 ran out at the bottom of one of them, he carried it of his own accord to the brazier, receiving it from 

 him when it was repaired, an. I then returned to his work. This elephant used to go about the streets 

 of Naples without ever injuring any one : he was fond of playing with children, whom he took up with 

 his trunk, placed them on his back, and set them down on the ground without their ever receiving 

 the siiialle.-.! hurt. 



t has been frequently observed by those who have had the charge of elephants, that they seem 



!' of being ridiculed, and seldom miss an opportunity of revenging themselves for the insults 



