MAMMALIA— ELEPHANT. 289 



the number of which varies, though that of the toes is constant ; for he has 

 always five to each foot, and commonly also five claws ; but sometimes he 

 has no more than four, or even three ; and, in this case, they do not cor- 

 respond exactly with the extremity of the fingers. 



The ears of the elephant are very long ; his tail is not longer than the 

 ear; it is commonly near three feet in length; it is rather thin, sharp, and 

 garnished at the extremity with a tuft of large, black, shining, and solid 

 bristles, which are as large and as strong as wire ; and a man cannot break 

 them with his hands, as they are elastic and pliant. This tuft of hair is an 

 ornament which the negro women are particularly fond of; and they attri- 

 bute to it some particular virtue, according to their superstitious notions ; 

 an elephant's tail is sometimes sold for two or three slaves ; and the negroes 

 often hazard their lives to cut and snatch it from the living animal. 



The largest elephants of the Indies, and the eastern coasts of Africa, are 

 fourteen feet high ; the smallest, which are found in Senegal, and in the 

 other western parts of Africa, are not above ten or eleven feet; and those 

 which have been brought young into Europe, were not so high. That at the 

 menagerie at Versailles, which came from Congo, was but seven feet and a 

 half high in his seventeenth year. During thirteen years that he lived in 

 France, he did not grow above a foot ; so that at the age of four, when he 

 was sent, he was only six feet and a half high. 



In order to give a complete idea of the nature and intelligence of this 

 singular animal, we shall insert here some particulars communicated by the 

 Marquis of Montmirail. The Indians make use of the elephant to carry 

 artillery over mountains ; and it is then that he gives the greatest proofs 

 of his intelligence. He acts in the following manner : — When the oxen, 

 yoked two and two, endeavor to draw up the mountain the piece of artillery, 

 the elephant pushes the breech of the gun with his forehead ; and at every 

 effort that he makes, he supports the carriage with his knee, which he 

 places near the wheel ; and it seems as if he understands what is said to 

 him. When his leader employs him in some hard labor, he explains what 

 is his work, and the reasons which ought to engage him to obey. If the 

 elephant shows an aversion to comply, the comae (so his leader is called) 

 promises to give him arrack, or something he likes ; then the animal agrees 

 to every thing proposed ; but it is dangerous to forfeit his word ; more than 

 one comae has been the victim of his deception. An instance of this hap- 

 pened in the Deccan, which deserves to be recorded ; and, however incredi- 

 ble it may appear, it is exactly true. An elephant had been revenged of his 

 comae by killing him. His wife, Avitness of this catastrophe, took her two 

 children and threw them to the feet of the animal, still furious ; telling him. 

 Since thou hast killed my husband, take also my life, and that of my children. 

 The elephant stopped short, grew calm, and, as if he had been moved with re- 

 gret and compassion, took with his trunk the largest of the two children, placed 

 it on his neck, adopted him for his cornac, and would have no other leader. 

 37 



