THE ELEPHANT. 77 



dignity of his office. If, on the contrary, lefs 

 honourable labours are affigned ro him, he 

 turns melancholy, frets, and evidently difco- 

 vers that he is humbled and depreffed. In 

 war, during the firft onfet, he is fiery and 

 impetuous. When furrounded with hunters, 

 he is equally brave. But, after being van- 

 quished, he lofes all courage. He fights with 

 his tufks, and dreads nothing fo much as to 

 lofe his trunk, which, from its confiftence, is 



eafily cut I fhall only add, that the 



elephant is mild, attacks no perfon without 

 being injured, feems to love fociety, is parti- 

 cularly fond of children, whom he careflfes, 

 and appears to difcern the innocence of their 



manners.' 



' The elephant,' fays Pyrard *, ' is an animal 

 of fo much knowledge and judgment, that, 

 befide his infinite utility to man, he may be 

 faid to enjoy a certain portion of reafon. When 

 about to be ridden, he is fo obedient and well 

 trained, that he accommodates his behaviour 

 to the quality of the perfon he ferves. He 

 bends down, and affifts his matter to mount 



with his trunk He is fo tradable, that 



he will perforin any thing that is required of 

 him, provided he be treated with gentlenefs. . , 

 He does every thing he is defired, carefTes 

 thofe who ride on him,' <3cc, 



'By 



r Voyage de Frar^ois Pvrard, torn. 2. p- 366. 



