242 UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 



the interest in the animal. If they were all the same, there 

 would be a monotony; but this is never the case, either among 

 animals or human beings, although they may belong to one 

 family. The elephant, on the other hand, stands so entirely 

 apart from all other animals, and its performances appear so ex- 

 traordinary owing to the enormous effect which its great strength 

 produces instantaneously, that its peculiarities interest mankind 

 more than any smaller animal. Yet, when we consider the actual 

 aptitude for learning, or the natural hai>its of the creature, we 

 are obliged to confess that in proportion to its size the elephant 

 is a mere fool in comparison with the intelligence of many insects. 

 . . . It actually does nothing remarkable, unless specially in- 

 structed; but it is this inertia that renders it so valuable to 

 man. If the elephant were to be continually exerting its natural 

 intelligence, and volunteering all manner of gigantic performances 

 in the hope that they would be appreciated by its rider, it would 

 be unbearable; the value of the animal consists in its capacity 

 to learn, and in its passive demeanour until directed by the 

 mahout's commands." The same writer advocates, in the follow- 

 ing words, the domestication of the African species: "It is much 

 to be regretted that no system has been organized in Africa for 

 capturing and training the wild elephants, instead of harrying 

 them to destruction. In a country where beasts of burden are 

 unknown, as in equatorial Africa, it seems incredible that the 

 power and the intelligence of the elephant have been completely 

 ignored. . . . When we consider the peculiar power that an ele- 

 phant possesses for swimming long distances, and for supporting 

 long marches under an enormous weight, we are tempted to con- 

 demn the apathy even of European settlers in Africa, who have 

 hitherto ignored the capabilities of this useful creature. The 

 chief difficulty of African commerce is the lack of transport. 

 The elephant is admirably adapted by his natural habits for 

 travelling through a wild country devoid of roads. He can 

 wade through unbridged streams, or swim the deepest rivers 

 (without a load), and he is equally at home either on land or 

 water. His carrying power for continued service would be from 

 12 to 14 cwts.; thus a single elephant would convey about 1300 

 Ibs. of ivory in addition to the weight of the pad. The value 

 of one load would be about ^500. At the present moment 

 such an amount of ivory would employ twenty-six carriers; but 



