OF NATURAL HISTORY. 449 



nfe of its ftrength than its addrefs. It loofed, with great eafe and 

 coolnefs, the buckle of a large double leathern ftrap, with which its 

 leg was fixed ; and, as the fervants had wrapped the buckle round 

 with a fmall cord, and tied many knots upon it, the creature, with 

 much deliberation, loofed the whole, without breaking either the 

 ftrap or the cord. 



It is remarked by le P. Vincent Marie, that the elephant, when 

 in a domeftic ftate, is highly efteemed for his gentlenefs, docility, 

 and friendfhip to his governour. When deftined to the immediate 

 fervice of princes, he is fenfible of his good fortune, and maintains a 

 gravity of demeanour correfponding to the dignity of his fituation. 

 But if, on the contrary, lefs honourable labours are afligned to him, 

 he grows melancholy, frets, and evidently difcovers that he is hum- 

 bled and deprefled. He is fond of children, carefles them, and ap- 

 pears to difcern the innocence of their manners. The Dutch voya- 

 gers relate *, that, by giving elephants what is agreeable to them, 

 they are foon rendered perfedly tame and fubmiffive. They are fo 

 fagacious, that they may be faid to be deftitute of the ufe of lan- 

 guage only. They are proud and ambitious ; and they are fo grate- 

 ful for good ufage, that, as a mark of refpeft, they bow their heads 

 in paffing houfes where they have been hofpitably received. They 

 allow themfelves to be led and commanded by a child ; but they 

 love to be praifed and carefled. When a wild elephant is taken, the 

 hunters tie his feet, and one of them accofts and falutes him, makes 

 apologies for binding him, protefts that no Injury is intended, tells 

 him, that, in his former condition, he frequently wanted food, but 

 that, henceforward, he ihall be well treated^ and that every promife 

 fiiall be performed to him. This foothrng harangue is no foonsr 

 t • 3 L. • finlfhed: 



Voyage de la Compagnie des Indes de HoUande; torn. i. pag. 413, 



