OF NATURAL HISTORY. 447 



In the elephant, the fenfe of fmelling is acute, and he is paflion- 

 ately fond of odoriferous flowers, which he colleds one by one, 

 forms them into a nofegay, and, after gratifying his nofe, conveys 

 them to his mouth. 



In India, the domeftic elephants, to whom the ufe of water Is as 

 neceflary as that of air, are allowed every poffible conveniency for 

 bathing themfelves. The animal goes into a river till the water 

 reaches his belly. He then lies down on one fide, fills his trunk fe- 

 veral times, and dexteroufly throws the water on fuch parts as hap- 

 pen to be uncovered. The maftcr, after cleaning and currying one 

 fide, defires the animal to turn to the other, which command he 

 obeys with the greateft alacrity ; and, when both fides have been 

 properly cleaned, he comes out of the river, and ftands feme time 

 on the bank to dry himfelf. The elephant, though his mafs be enoi-- 

 mous, is an excellent fwimmer; and, of courfe, he is of great ufe in 

 the pafTage of rivers. When employed on occafions of this kind, 

 he is often loaded with two pieces of cannon which admit three or 

 four pound balls, befide great quantities of baggage and feveral men 

 fixed to his ears and his tail. When thus heavily loaded, he fpon- 

 taneoufly enters the river and fwims over with his trunk elevated in 

 the air for the benefit of refpiration. He is fond of wine and ar- 

 dent fpirits. By fhowing him a vefliel filled with any of thefe li- 

 quors, and promifing him it as the reward of his labours, he is in- 

 duced to exert the greateft efforts, and to perform the moft painful 

 tafks. The elephant, as we are informed by M. de BufTy, quoted 

 by the Count de Buffon, is employed in dragging artillery over 

 mountains, and, on thefe occafions, his fagacity and docility are con- 

 fpicuous. Horfes or oxen, when yoked to a cannon, make all their 

 exertions to pull it up a declivity. But the elephant puflies the 

 breach forward with his front, and, at each effort, fiippor.: Jie car- 

 riage with his knee, which he places againlt the wheel. He feems 



to 



