i 7 o HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



pafture, and do incredible damage whenever they hap- 

 pen to ftray into cultivated ground. From the weight 

 of their bodies and the fize of their feet, they deftroy 

 much more than they ufe for food. — The Indians and ne- 

 groes ufe every artifice to prevent the approach of thefe 

 unwelcome vifitants, making loud noifes, and kindling 

 fires round their habitations ; but in fpite of all their pre- 

 cautions, the Elephants often break through their fences, 

 deftroy their whole harveft, and overturn their huts. It 

 is not eafy to feparate them : They generally act in con- 

 cert, whether they attack, march, or fly. 



The ordinary walk of the Elephant is not quicker than 

 that of a Horfe ; but when pufhed, he aflumes a kind of 

 ambling pace, which in fleetnefs is equal to a gallop. 



He goes forward with eafe and celerity ; but it is with 

 great difficulty that he turns himfelf round, and that not 

 without taking a pretty large circuit. It is generally in 

 narrow and hollow places that the negroes attack him, 

 and cut off his tail, which they value above every other 

 part of his body. — He fwims well, and is of great ufe in 



carrying quantities of baggage over large rivers 



"When fwimming, he raifes his long trunk above the fur- 

 face of the water for the fake of refpiration, every other 

 part of his body being below : In this manner feveral of 

 thefe animals fwim together, and fteer their courfe with- 

 out danger of running foul of each other. 



The Elephant, when tamed, is gentle, obedient, and 

 docile : Patient of labour, it fubmits to the mod toil- 

 fome drudgery ; and fo attentive to the commands of its 

 governor, that a word or a look is fufficient to ftimulate 

 it to the molt violent exertions. Its attachment to its 

 keeper is fo great, that it careffes him with its trunk, 

 and frequently will obey no other matter : It knows his 



