DOMESTICATED MAMMALS AND THEIR USES 243 
as these are generally slaves which can be sold at the termina- 
tion of the journey, they might be more profitable than the 
legitimate transport by an elephant.” Sir Harry Johnston, while 
in favour of experiments in this matter, thus expresses his fore- 
bodings as to the result:—‘ The question of its domestication and 
usefulness to man is a very doubtful one. It is relatively easy to 
obtain young African elephants, and to tame them in a few days 
or a few weeks. It is also easy to train them to bear burdens 
on their backs or to perform other simple tasks, but it cannot be 
Fig. 1176.—An Indian Elephant (Z/ephas Judicus) lifting Timber 
said as they grow up that they evince the same docility that is 
characteristic of the Indian elephant, while after the males have 
reached maturity they are positively dangerous. Something might 
be done with the adult female African elephant.” (Mature, 1904.) 
Tue Razsit (Lepus cunicuLus) AND Hare (L. Timipus).— 
The various breeds of Rabbit which are domesticated in Europe 
are all descended from the common wild form, which was origi- 
nally restricted to the countries bordering the Western Mediter- 
ranean, and the islands of the same region. Some of the races, 
especially Chinchillas and Angoras, are valued on account of 
their fur, the flesh being also utilized (fig. 1177). In this country 
they are chiefly kept as pets, and for show purposes. 
