220 
MAMMALIA. 
[Chap. VII. 
in piling ebony and satinwood in the yards attached to 
the commissariat stores at Colombo, were so accustomed 
to their work, that they were able to accomplish it with 
equal precision and with greater rapidity than if it had 
been done by dock-labourers. When the pile attained 
a certain height, and they were no longer able by their 
conjoint efforts to raise one of the heavy logs of ebony 
to the summit, they had been taught to lean two pieces 
against the heap, up the inclined plane of which they 
gently rolled the remaining logs, and placed them 
trimly on the top. 
It has been asserted that in their occupations " ele- 
phants are to a surprising extent the creatures of habit," 1 
that their movements are altogether mechanical, and 
that "they are annoyed by any deviation from their 
accustomed practice, and resent any constrained depar- 
ture from the regularity of their course." So far as my 
own observation goes, this is incorrect; and I am 
assured by officers of experience, that in regard to 
changing his treatment, his hours, or his occupation, 
an elephant evinces no more consideration than a horse, 
but exhibits the same pliancy and facility. 
At one point, however, the utility of the elephant 
stops short. Such is the intelligence and earnestness he 
displays in work, which he seems to conduct almost 
without supervision, that it has been assumed 2 that he 
would continue his labour, and accomplish his given 
task, as well in the absence of his keeper as during his 
presence. But here his innate love of ease displays 
itself, and if the eye of his attendant be withdrawn, the 
moment he has finished the thing immediately in hand, 
1 Menageries, $c, " The Elephant," vol. ii. p. 23. 
2 Ibid., ch. vi. p. 138. 
