THE ELEPHANT. 79 



€ matter wants to mount them, they am ft him 

 with great dexterity. When a wild elephant 

 is taken, the hunters tie his feet, and one ac- 

 cofts and falutes him, makes apologies for 

 binding him, protefts that no injury is meant, 

 tells him, that, in his former condition, he of- 

 ten wanted food, but that, henceforward, he 

 fhall be well treated, and that every promife 

 fhall be performed to him, &c. The hunter 

 no fooner finifhes this Toothing harangue, than 

 the elephant follows him like a tamed lamb. 

 We mufl not, however, conclude from hence, 

 that the elephant underftands language, but 

 only, that, having a very ftrong difcerning 

 faculty, he dift inguifhes efteem from contempt, 

 friendfhip from hatred, and all the other emo- 

 tions which men exhibit to him ; and for this 

 reafon he is more eafily tamed by arguments 



than by blows With his trunk he 



throws ilones very far, and very ftraight, and 

 alfo ufes it for pouring water on his body when 

 bathing.' 



4 Of five elephants/ Tavernier remarks f, 

 which the hunters had taken, three efcaped, 

 though ropes and chains were thrown round 

 their bodies and limbs. The natives told us 

 the following moft ailonifhing ftoiy, if it could 

 be credited. When an elephant, they laid, 

 has once been caught in a pitfall, and efcapes 

 from the fnare, he becomes extremely diffi- 



* dent, 



* Voyage de Tavernier, torn. 3. p, 233. 



