662 PROBOSCIDEA. 



like those of Ellora. Even to the present time the Hindoos, on great 

 occasions, select these creatures to bear the images of their gods, and we 

 find them loaded with the most valuable ornaments in the mystic pro- 

 cessions of Brahma and Vishnoo. The use of elephants is absolutely 

 prohibited in the modern capital of Siam, excepting to personages of 

 very high rank; and, in a portion of the Celestial Empire, the chief 

 minister for the foreign department is expressly designated as "the 

 Mandarin of Elephants." 



The earliest account, which may be considered worthy to be regarded 

 as history, of the employment of elephants as part of an army, is that 

 which is given of the battle of Arbela (331 B.C.), when Darius ranged 

 fifteen of them in front of the centre of his grand line. They fell into the 

 hands of the conqueror, Alexander, to whom a present was made of 

 twelve more; but this great general was too wise to make use of them 

 in his battle against Porus, as he had already perceived that they might 

 prove very dangerous allies, if driven back mad with wounds and terror 

 among the " serried ranks." Very soon, however, they were put to use, 

 systematically ; and gradually, by regular training, became very for- 

 midable. There were few wars in which the Romans were engaged, 

 during the three hundred years that intervened between the time of 

 Alexander the Great and Caesar, in which these animals were not em- 

 ployed. Notwithstanding their military education, however, it must be 

 admitted that the best fighting elephants not unfrequently caused their 

 masters to lose the day by their insubordinate and disorderly conduct. 



Of the tower which was fixed upon the back of the elephant, and 

 filled with armed men, our impressions are chiefly derived from ancient 

 medals and coins, pictures, bas-reliefs, and the writings of poets. In the 

 Book of Maccabees it is said — "And upon the beasts there were strong 

 towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast, 

 unto them with devices ; there were also upon every one, two-and-thirty 

 strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him." 

 This number is an exaggerated one. The usual number of men was 

 four, beside the conductor. 



The ancient armor of an elephant, in other respects, is highly interest- 

 ing — a strange mixture of the terrible and grotesque. He was often half- 

 cased with plates of metal, and wore a large breastplate, which was fur- 

 nished with long sharp spikes, to render his charge into the ranks of the 

 enemy more devastating; his tusks were fitted — in fact, elongated — with 



