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 itself, and if the eye of his attendant be withdrawn, the 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. 



