192 Anecdotal Natural History. 



After more than an hour had been thus wasted the 

 elephant suddenly comprehended the situation, and 

 swam towards shore, accompanied by the boat. 

 Some sand-banks on the way afforded it resting 

 places, and in about four hours after leaving the ship 

 the first Asiatic elephant set foot on African shore. 



There was little trouble with the other elephants, 

 for they took courage from the conduct of their 

 companion, and swam ashore after her. 



One of the elephants of the Jardin des Plantes. of 

 Paris, used to play an absurd trick with the visitors. 

 She would sink herself until only the tip of the 

 trunk projected from the water, and she was thereby 

 rendered practically invisible. Then she would send 

 a torrent of water over the spectators, who could not 

 imagine where the deluge came from. 



That elephants should be such admirable swimmers 

 seems very remarkable, and especially that they 

 should have such propulsive power as to drag back a 

 boat fully manned. The capability of sinking or 

 rising at will in the water is equally remarkable, and 

 is owing to the power of contracting its body so as 

 to render it heavier than an equal bulk of water. 



Activity, again, seems no characteristic of the 

 elephant. Its apparently stiff and ungainly legs, 

 which can swing some fourteen or fifteen feet at each 

 step, although well enough adapted to carry the huge 

 body along at a swift pace, appear to be totally in 

 adequate to perform feats of activity. 



Yet the elephant can climb rocks where one might 

 think no animal but the goat would venture. It can 

 slide down a steep hill just as a "coaster" slides 

 down a snow-clad declivity on his sledge, and can 

 guide or check its progress with equal skill. I have 

 seen an elephant stand on its hind feet, or fore feet, 

 or on the feet of one side, or on the fore foot of one 



