MAMMALIA—ELEPHANT. 289 
tne 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 canuot 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 attn- 
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, werenot so high. ‘That at the 
menagerie at Versailles, which came from Congo, was but seven feet anda 
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 cornac (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 cornac 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 cf his 
cornac by killing him. His wife, witness 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 be had been moved with res 
gret and compassion, took with his trunk the largest of the two children, placed 
iton his neck, adopted him for his cornac, and would have no other leader 
37 
