So THE ELEPHANT, 



tient, breaks off a large brancli with his trunk,' 

 and ftrikes the ground every where before he 

 fets down his feet, in order to difcover by the 

 found whether there are any concealed holes 

 by which he may be entrapped a fecond time. 

 For this reafon, the hunters who related this 

 ftory delpaired of being able, without much 

 difficulty, to retake the three elephants which 



had made their efcape Each of the 



two elephants which had been feized were 

 placed between two tame ones, and furround- 

 ed by fix men with burning torches, who 

 fpoke to the animals, and, prefenting food to 

 them, faid, in their language, take this and cat 

 it. The food confided of fmall bunches of 

 hay, pieces of black fugar, and boiled rice 

 mixed with pepper. When the wild elephant 

 refilled to do what he was ordered, the men 

 ordered the tame elephants to beat him, which 

 they performed, the one ftriking him on the 

 front and head, and, if the captive animal at- 

 tempted to defend himfelf, the other {truck 

 him on the fide ; fo that the poor creature knew 

 not where he was, and foon found himfelf o- 

 bliged to obey.' 

 4 I have frequently remarked,' fays Edward 

 Terry *, ' that the elephant performs many ac- 

 4 tions which feem to proceed more from rea- 



* fon than from inftinct. He does every thing 



* that his mailer commands : If he wants to ter-< 



1 rif> 



* Voyage to the Eaft Indies, by Edward Terry, p. 15. 



