THE ELEPHANT. 14Q 



painful labour, he explains the nature of the opera- 

 tions, and recites the reasons which ought to induce 

 him to obey. If the Elephant shews a repugnance 

 to what is exacted of him, his Comae, or conduc- 

 tor, promises to give him arrack, or somewhat else 

 that he likes. It is extremely dangerous, however, to 

 break any promise that is made to hiin ; many Cor- 

 Hacs\\:xvQ fallen victims to indiscretions of this kind. 



But though he is vindictive, the Elephant is 

 not ungrateful. A soldier at Pondicherry was ac- 

 customed to give a certain quantity of arrack to one 

 of these animals, every time he got his pay ; and 

 having one day intoxicated himself, and being pur- 

 sued by the guard, who Vv^inted to put him in 

 prison, he took refuge under the Elephant, and 

 there fell fast asleep. The guard in vain attempted 

 to drag him from this asylum, for the Elephant de- 

 fended him with its trunk. Next day the soldier, 

 having recovered from his intoxication, was in 

 dreadful apprehension when he found himbelf under 

 the belly of this enormous anii.al. The Ele- 

 phant, who unqucsiionably ptrceivcd his terror, 

 relieved his fears by immediately carresoing him with 

 his trunk. 



This animal is, during the rutting senson, seized 

 with a madness which makes him tota!!\ untrac- 

 table, and makes him so formidable, that it is 

 often necessary to kill him. llic people trv to 

 bind hill with large iron chains, in the hope of re- 

 claiming him : but in his ordinary state, the most 

 acute pains will not provoke him to hurt those who 

 have never injured him. An Elephant^ rendered 



L 3 



