290 MAMMALIA—ELEPHANT. 
If the elephant is vindictive, he is no less grateful. A soldier of Pondi- 
cherry, who commonly carried to one of these animals a certain measure 
of arrack every time that he received his pay, having one day drank more 
than common, and seeing himself pursued by the guard, who threatened to 
conduct him to prison, took refuge under the elephant, and slept there. It 
was in vain that the guard attempted to draw him out from this asylum; 
the elephant defended him with his trunk. The next day the soldier, be- 
come sober, was struck with terror to lie under an animal of this enormous 
bulk. The elephant, who, no doubt, perceived his consternation, caressed 
him with his trunk, to remove his fears, and made him understand that he 
might depart freely. 
The elephant falls sometimes into a sort of a frenzy, which deprives him 
of his tractableness, and makes him extremely formidable. This commonly 
happens in the spring season. He is commonly killed on the first symptoms 
of madness, for fear of mischief. Sometimes he is tied with heavy chains 
in hopes that he will come to himself; but when he is in his natural state, 
the most acute pains cannot engage him to do any harm to persons who 
have not offended him. An elephant, furious with the wounds which he 
had received in battle at Hambour, ran through the fields, and cried out in 
the most hideous manner. A soldier, who, notwithstanding the warning of 
his companions, could not fly, perhaps, because he was wounded, remained 
in his way ; the elephant was afraid to trample him under his feet, took him 
with his trunk, placed him gently on one side of the road, and continued his 
march. The gentlemen of the Academy of Sciences have also communicated 
tous some facts which they have learned from those who governed the ele- 
phant at the menagerie of Versailles; and these facts seem to deserve a place. 
“The elephant seemed to discern when any person made a fool of him; 
and he remembered the affront to be revenged of it the first opportunity. 
Having been balked by a man, who feigned to throw something into his 
mouth, he struck him with his trunk, and broke two of his ribs; afterwards - 
he trampled him under his feet, and broke one of his legs; and having 
kneeled down, he tried to thrust his tusks into the man’s belly, which, how- 
ever, went into the ground on both sides of the thigh, which was not wound- 
ed. He bruised another man, by squeezing him against the wall for a 
similar mockery. A painter was desirous to draw him in an extraordinary 
attitude, which was, to keep his trunk erect, and the mouth open. The 
servant of the painter, to make him remain in that attitude, threw fruits 
into his mouth; but afterwards he deceived him, which provoked his indigna- 
tion; and, as if he had known, that the cause of this deception was the 
painter’s desire of having him drawn, he was revenged on his master, by 
throwing with his trunk a great quantity of water, which spoiled the paper 
intended for his design ” 
Me made less use of his strength than of his dexterity, which was such, 
that he untied, with great facility, a double leather string which fastened his 
