THE ELEPHANT. 



equilibrium with their eyes ; then, at laft, making one grand effort, they 

 fuddenly drew back together, that they might not be wounded by the ruins.'* 

 When a reward is offered to an Elephant, for any fervice he is to perform, 

 it is dangerous to difappoint him, as he never fails to revenge the infult. 



The princes and grandees of India never travel without a great number of 

 thefe animals in their fuit, who are employed to convey the ladies of the 

 feraglio on their backs, in cages made of lattice work, and covered with the 

 boughs of trees ; others are ufed to carry the immenfe quantities of baggage 

 with which thefe great perfonages always travel. 



Much more might be added concerning the moral and phylical faculties 

 of this animal ; fuffice it, however, to fay, that gentle, expert, fenfible, and 

 intelligent, he comprehends, in a fliort time, the meaning of expreflions ufed 

 by perfons to whom he is accuftomed, and is ealily taught to perform the 

 moft important fervices. One thing, however, he needs not be inflructed in, 

 which is gratitude ; generous by nature, he no longer regards his own fafety, 

 if he perceives his mailer or benefactor in danger, but runs inftantly to his 

 afliftance. 



The Elephant never breeds in a ffate of flavery ; it becomes neceffary, 

 therefore, to recruit the numbers, which are unavoidably confumed by difeafe, 

 death, or accidents : for this purpofe, the eaftern princes fend perfons yearly 

 to the forefls where they are found, who ufe various ftratagems to catch them. 

 There is not one, of the vaft number of thefe creatures trained for fervice, 

 which has not been originally wild and forced into fubjection. The manner 

 of effecting this is curious, and worthy of notice. A foreff is felected, which 

 is known to abound with Elephants ; in the midft of this, a large piece of 

 ground is inclofed with ftrong palifades, between which the boughs of trees 

 are interwoven. This inclofure is narrow at one end, and gradually widens, 

 fo as to take in a great tract of land : feveral thoufand men aflift in the chafe, 

 and place themfelves fo as to prevent the efcape of the wild Elephants : this 

 they effect by kindling fires at proper diftances, and making a dreadful noife 

 with drums and other difcordant inllruments, by which the poor animals are 

 liunned and terrified ; at the fame time, another numerous party, affifted by 



