148 THE ELEPHANT. 



as well as in Tonquin, Siam, and Pegu, where fire- 

 arms are but little understood, these animals are still 

 used in bartle. The guide sits across upon the neck, 

 and the combatants sit or stand upon the other parts 

 of the body. They are also extremely serviceable in 

 the fording of rivers, by carrying over the bag- 

 gage on their backs. After the keeper has loaded 

 them with several hundred weight, he fastens ropes 

 to them ; of which the soldiers taking hold,- either 

 swim, or are drawn through the water. In lime of 

 action, a heavy iron chain is sometimes fixed to the 

 end of their trunks ; wliich they whirl round with 

 such agility as to render it impossible for an ene- 

 my to approach them at that time. Another use 

 still made of this creature in war, is to force open 

 the gates of a city or garrison which is closely 

 besieged. This he does by setting his hinder parts 

 against them, and moving backwards and forwards 

 till he has burst the bars, and forced an entrance : 

 to prevent which, many of the garrisons in the 

 East have large spikes stuck in their gates, pro- 

 jecting to a considerable distance. 



The Elephant is, however, used in dragging 

 art'llery over mountains ; and it is on such occasions 

 that his sagacity is most conspicuous. Whiile the 

 Oxen yoked to a cannon make an effort to pull 

 it up a declivity, the Elephant pushes the breech 

 with his front, and at each effort supports the car- 

 riage with his knee, which he places against the 

 wheel. He seems to imdersand whatever is said to 

 him. 



When his conductor wants him to execute any 



