^o THE ELEPHANT. 



phant *. Thofe which he took from Porus, he 

 caufed to be brought to Greece ; and they were, 

 perhaps, the fame which Pyrrhus f» feveral years 

 after, employed againft the Romans in the Ta- 

 rentine war, and with which Curius came tri- 

 umphant into Rome. Annibal afterwards tranf- 

 ported elephants from Africa, made them pafs 

 the Alps, and conducted them almoft to the 

 gates of Rome. 



The Indians, from a period beyond the re- 

 cords of hiftory, have employed elephants in 

 war J. Among thefe undifciplined nations, the 

 elephants formed their beft troop ; and, as long 

 as fteel weapons alone were employed, they ge- 

 nerally decided the fate of battles. We learn 

 from hiftory, however, that the Greeks and 

 Romans were foon accuftomed to thefe monfters 

 of war. They opened their ranks to let them 

 pafs, and directed all their weapons, not againft 

 the animals, but their conductors, who ufed all 

 their efforts to turn and appeafe thofe which had 



feparated 



* Elephantes ex Europaeis primus Alexander habuit, cum 

 fubegiiffct Porum ; Paufanias, in Attich. 



f Manius Curius Dentatus, viclo Pyrrho, primum in tri- 

 umpho elephantum duxit ; Seneca de brevitate vitae, cap. 13. 



X From time immemorial, the Kings of Ceylon, of Pegu, 

 and of Aracan, have ufed elephants in wars. Naked fabres 

 were tied to their trunks, and on their backs were fixed fmall 

 wooden caftles, which contained five or fix men armed with 

 javelins, and other weapons. They contribute greatly to 

 diforder the enemy ; but they are eafily terrified by the fight 

 of fire ; Recueil des voyages de la Compagnh des bides, torn. 7.—!- 

 'oyage de Scbonten, p. 32. 



