OF NATURAL HISTORY. 441 



' Cape of Good Hope. The figure of this ape had a very great re- 

 * femblance to that of man *.' 



We have now enumerated the principal fads regarding this ex- 

 traordinary animal, which have been related by voyagers of credit, 

 and by thofe who have feen and examined him in Europe; and fhall 

 only remark, that, notwithftanding the great fimilarity of his ftruc- 

 ture and organs to thofe of the human fpecies, his genius and talents 

 feem to be very limited. The form of his body enables him to imi- 

 tate every human adion. But, though he has the organs of fpeecbj^ 

 he is deftitute of articulate language. If, however, he were domef- 

 ticated, and proper pains beftowed for inftruding him, he might un- 

 queftionably be taught to articulate. But, fuppofing this point to 

 be obtained, if he remained incapable of refledion, if he was unable 

 to comprehend the meaning of words, or to difcover by his expref- 

 fions a degree of intelled greatly fuperior to that of the brute crea- 

 tion, which 1 imagine would be the cafe, he could never, as fome 

 authors have held forth, be exalted to the diftinguifhed rank of hu- 

 man beings. 



Of all quadrupeds, of whofe hiftory and manners we have any 

 proper knowledge, the elephant is moft remarkable both for docility 

 and underftandlng. Though his fize is enormous, and his members 

 rude and difproportioned, which give him, at firft fight, the afped 

 ef dullnefs and ftupidity, his genius is great, and his fagacious man- 

 ners, and his fedate and colleded deportment, are almoft incredible. 

 He is the largeft and ftrongeft of all terreftrial animals. Though 

 naturally brave, his difpofiuons are mild and peaceable. He is an 

 aflbciating animal, and feldom appears alone in the forefts. When. 

 in danger, or when they undertake a depredatory expedition into 

 I t 3 K cultivated 



* Voyages de Fran. le Guat, torn. 2, pag. 56. 



