No. 40—1890.] ACCOUNT OF CEYLON. 



351 



the cinnamon, very artificially and cleverly in little trunks, 

 boxes, and even sticks : thus I was presented in Ceilon with 

 a cinnamon stick, which was very ingeniously inlaid with 

 cinnamon. 



Amongst the animals found in the wilds of Ceilon, 

 elephants are the most important. The finest and most 

 intelligent kind is found in this Island. 



I have seen exceptionally big ones at Mature, the Gal- 

 yettis, and also Puncto gale ; they learn with astonishing 

 perception to carry out all sorts of difficult work, just as horses 

 do in Holland. It is said that elephants of other countries 

 show their respect to these by kneeling down to them. 



The kings of Ceilon, ArraJcan, Pegu, and others have 

 from olden times employed elephants in their principal wars. 

 Swords were tied to their trunks, and wooden towers on 

 their backs, in which five or six men could stand with pikes, 

 guns, and other weapons. They knew how to disperse their 

 enemies , and throw them into confusion. They are, however, 

 easily frightened by fire, They are highly prized by the 

 princes of Asia. Their size, docility, and agility show to 

 men the marvellous wonders of God. They are ambitious 

 and intelligent. The females are said to be influenced by 

 the phases of the moon. It is believed that they have never 

 coupled in anybody's presence, that they go in calf for two 

 years or longer, and that they reach an age of 150 years. 

 The skin is wrinkled, tough, and dull-coloured. Some are 

 9 to 10 ft. in height. They have large ears, and masticate 

 with four teeth, besides the two big ones (tusks), which pro- 

 ject far out of the mouth, and are of ivory, of which so many 

 pretty things are made. The nose (trunk) consists of a kind 

 of pendulum or long snout, which is narrow, and has an 

 opening at the end, which is smooth and slimy inside. They 

 use it like a hand. They are able to put with it into their 

 mouth, not only rice soaked in water, palm leaves, and 

 plantain trees, which form their food, but also liquid food. 

 With their trunk they know how to carry packages and 

 goods, and dexterously to lift a man or a woman from the 



