242 UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 
the interest in the animal. If they were all the same, there 
would be a monotony; but this is never the case, either among 
animals or human beings, although they may belong to one 
family. The elephant, on the other hand, stands so entirely 
apart from all other animals, and its performances appear so ex- 
traordinary owing to the enormous effect which its great strength 
produces instantaneously, that its peculiarities interest mankind 
more than any smaller animal. Yet, when we consider the actual 
aptitude for learning, or the natural habits of the creature, we 
are obliged to confess that in proportion to its size the elephant 
is a mere fool in comparison with the intelligence of many insects. 
It actually does nothing remarkable, unless specially in- 
structed; but it is this inertia that renders it so valuable to 
man. If the elephant were to be continually exerting its natural 
intelligence, and volunteering all manner of gigantic performances 
in the hope that they would be appreciated by its rider, it would 
be unbearable; the value of the animal consists in its capacity 
to learn, and in its passive demeanour until directed by the 
mahout’s commands.” The same writer advocates, in the follow- 
ing words, the domestication of the African species:—‘“It is much 
to be regretted that no system has been organized in Africa for 
capturing and training the wild elephants, instead of harrying 
them to destruction. In a country where beasts of burden are 
unknown, as in equatorial Africa, it seems incredible that the 
power and the intelligence of the elephant have been completely 
ignored. . . . When we consider the peculiar power that an ele- 
phant possesses for swimming long distances, and for supporting 
long marches under an enormous weight, we are tempted to con- 
demn the apathy even of European settlers in Africa, who have 
hitherto ignored the capabilities of this useful creature. The 
chief difficulty of African commerce is the lack of transport. 
The elephant is admirably adapted by his natural habits for 
travelling through a wild country devoid of roads. He can 
wade through unbridged streams, or swim the deepest rivers 
(without a load), and he is equally at home either on land or 
water. His carrying power for continued service would be from 
12 to 14 cwts.; thus a single elephant would convey about 1300 
Ibs. of ivory in addition to the weight of the pad. The value 
of one load would be about £500. At the present moment 
such an amount of ivory would employ twenty-six carriers; but 
