THE ELEPHANT. 



his trunk was then too narrow to admit of his embracing the part 

 conveniently. It was this kind of fact, perhaps, feen fuperficially, which 

 occafioned the error of certain travellers, while others, remarking that the 

 Elephants quench their thirft by pumping the water through their trunk into 

 their throat, fuppofed it a probable inference, that they fucked after the fame 

 manner ; but whatever may have been the caufe, the error is indubitable.'* 



The wild Elephant in India feeds on herbs, fruits, corn, and the tender 

 parts of flirubs ; he is very fond of the bamboo grain (a), and the food given 

 him, when tame, is not very different. By way of regale, he is fometimes 

 fed with dumplins made of wheat flour, boiled rice, or other corn kneaded 

 up with butter and molafies, to which fome bottles of arrack are added. 



Like mod herbivorous animals, the Elephant lives in fmall focieties, 

 having a chief always at the head of the herd, which, in cafe of danger, 

 advances firft, and all unite their efforts for their mutual defence. 



The captivity of the Elephant does not prevent the return of the rutting 

 feafons ; the female then appears uneafy, but is gentle and obedient, 

 notwithstanding : but it is not fo with the male, his ardor renders him 

 furious, and he often breaks his chains ; when at large, he wanders about 

 with an unequal gait, fometimes flow, fometimes precipitate ; all who come 

 in his way are liable to experience the effects of his fury, and even his cornac, 

 or driver, is not fafe. He would, indeed, do much mifchief, if his fury were 

 not oppofed by men who run before him With long pikes, which they 

 threaten to thruft in his eyes. 



The Elephant feems to poifefs many moral qualities, which almofl belpeak 

 a refined kind of inftinct, approaching towards reflection. He is remarkably 

 fufceptible of gratitude, attachment, pride, emulation, and rancour. He 

 apparently comprehends, in two or three years, every thing his cornac or 

 driver commands him to do ; he hailens or ilackens his pace, in obedience 



(a) The bamboo fomewhat refembles the jointed ftravv of wheat, but on a much larger fcale; it bears an ear 

 containing a grain very like oats,, but in colour, fize., and tafte more refembling fmall Wheat. It affords fubftantial 

 nourifhment, and the inhabitants of the high chain of mountains, which divides the peninfula, frequently ufe it 

 inftead of rice. 



