HISTORY OF QUAD RUP EDS. 171 



voice ; and can diftinguifh the tone of command, of an- 

 ger, or approbation ; and regulates its actions accord- 

 ingly : It receives his orders with attention, and executes 

 them with eagernefs, but without precipitation All its 

 motions are orderly, and feem to correfpond with the 

 dignity of its appearance, being grave, majellic, and cau- 

 tious. It kneels down for the accommodation of thofe 

 who would mount upon its back, and with its pliant 

 trunk even aiTifts them to afcend. It fuffers itfelf to be 

 harnefled, and feems to have a pleafure in the finery of 

 its trappings. It is ufed in drawing chariots, waggons, 

 and various kinds of machines. One of them will per- 

 form with eafe the work of many horfes. 



The conductor of the Elephant is ufually mounted on 

 its neck ; and makes ufe of a rod of iron, fharp at the 

 end, and hooked ; with which he urges the animal for- 

 ward, by pricking its head, ears, or muzzle: But in ge- 

 neral, a word from the keeper is fufficient to encourage 

 this intelligent creature to proceed on its way, or per- 

 form the tailc afiigned to it. — In India, where they were 

 once employed in launching mips, one of them was di- 

 rected to force a large velTel into the water; which prov- 

 ed fuperior to his ftrength, the matter, in an angry tone, 

 cried out, * Take away that lazy beaft, and bring another 

 in its place.' The poor animal inflanrly redoubled its 

 efforts, fractured its fkull, and died upon the fpot. 



The Indians, from very early periods, have employed 

 Elephants in their wars : Porus oppofed the pafTage of 

 Alexander over the Hydafpes with eighty-five of them. 

 M. de Buffon imagines, that it was fome of the Ele- 

 phants taken by that monarch, and afterwards tranfport- 

 ed into Greece, which were employed by Pyrrhus againft 

 the Romans. — Since the invention of fire-arms, the Ele- 



