HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 175 



of his labour. To difappoint him is dangerous, as he 

 feldom fails to be revenged. The following inftance is 

 given as a fa£t, and deferves to be recorded -An Ele- 

 phant, difappointed of its reward, out of revenge killed 

 his cornac or governor. The poor man's wife, who be- 

 held the dreadful fcene, took her two infants, and threw 

 them at the feet of the enraged animal, faying, * Since 

 you have flain my hulband, take my life alfo, as well as 

 that of my children.' The Elephant inftantly flopped, 

 relented, and as if flung with remorfe, took the eldeft 

 boy in its trunk, placed him on its neck, adopted him 

 for its cornac, and would never allow any other perfon 

 to mount it. 



This animal feems to know when it is mocked, and 

 never fails to retaliate accordingly. A painter wifhed to 

 draw one in an unufual attitude, with its trunk elevated, 

 and its mouth open. In order to induce the Elephant to 

 exhibit to more advantage, a perfon was employed to 

 throw fruit into its mouth, who fometimes deceived it 

 by only making an offer of doing fo, and retaining the 

 fruit in his hand. Enraged at this kind of treatment, 

 and, as it mould feem, guefling the painter to be the 

 caufe, it ejected a quantity of water from its trunk, 

 which fpoiled his paper, and prevented him from pro- 

 ceeding in his work. 



We might quote many other facls equally curious and 

 interefting : Thofe we have already recited are fufficient 

 to (hew, that the Elephant is poflefled of inftincl:ive fa- 

 culties fuperior to thofe of any other animal. We muft 

 at the fame time admire the admirable order of that 

 difpenfation, which, to an animal of fuch enequalled 

 ^powers, has added a difpofition fo mild and tractable.— - 

 What ravages might we not expect from the prodigious 



