EL E 
E L E 
Hevated; the cars are long, broad, and pendulous; 
the eyes are extremely fmall ; the body is round and 
full J the back rifes in a kind of arch; and the legs 
are thick, clumfy, and fhapelefs. The hide, which 
is of a dufky colour, is furnifhed with only a few 
fcattered hairs, but replete with fcratches and fears 
acquired in it's pafTage through woods and thick- 
ets; the tail, like that of the hog, is terminated by 
a few long hairs of an extraordinary fize ; the feet 
ire undivided, but the margins are inclofed by five 
round hoofs ; and the whole animal is fhort in pro- 
portion to it's height. The female is lefs than the 
male; and the udder hangs between the fore-legs. 
Though the Elephant is the ftrongeft, as well 
as the largeft, of all quadrupeds, in a ftate of na- 
ture it is neither fierce nor formidable: pacific, 
mild, and brave, it never abufes it's ftrength, but 
iexerts it either in it's own proteftion or that of the 
community. In it's native defarts, it is feldom 
perceived alone, but appears to be a fociable and 
friendly creature. The veteran of the company 
always condufts the band, that next in feniority 
bringing up the rear; the weak and the infirm are 
placed in the centre; while their offspring are borne 
by the females, and prevented from falling by 
means of their trunks : however, this order is only 
maintained either during dangerous marches, or 
when thefe animals are defirous of feeding in cul- 
tivated grounds. In forefls and other folitudes, 
they move with lefs precaution, though without 
ever feparating, or even removing fo far afunder 
as to be incapable of lending each other any re- 
quifite afiiftance. 
Nothing hardly can be more formidable than a 
drove of Elephants, as they appear at a diftance in 
an African landfcape : wherever they come, the fo- 
refts feem to fink beneath them ; in their paffage, 
they bear down the branches on which they feed ; 
and if they enter an inclofure, in a very few minutes 
all the labours of agriculture are cut off and dif- 
appear: fuch invafions are the more terrible, as 
they cannot be repelled; for an army of men 
would fcarcely be adequate to the taflc of attacking 
their united numbers. Sometimes, however, it 
happens that one or two of them are found lin- 
gering behind the reft; and againft thefe only the 
power and ftratagems of the hunters can be ex- 
erted with effe^l; for an attempt to moleft the 
whole body would inevitably be fatal, as they rufh 
dire(5lly forward on the perfon who offers to infult 
them, ftrike him with their tufl-cs, feize him with 
their trunks, tofs him into the air, and watching 
his fall, trample him to death. But they are thus 
dreadful only when incenfed, never offering any 
perfonal injury when fuffered to feed unmolefted. 
It is even faid that they retain a fenfe of injuries re- 
ceived ; and accordingly, when once provoked by 
man, they feek every future occafion of revenge, 
fmelling him with their long trunks at a diftance, 
following him with all their fpeed on the fcent, and 
(though flow to appearance) foon overtaking and 
deftroying him. 
Elephants, in their natural ftate, feem to delight 
in frequenting the banks of rivers and the deepefc 
vallies, and in refrefliing themfelves in the moft 
fliadyforefts and v/et fituations. Indeed, they can- 
not exift at a great diftance from the v/ater, which 
they always difturb before drinking. They often 
fill their trunks with this element, either for the 
purpofe of cooling that organ, or of diverting 
themfelves v/ith fpurting it forth in the manner of 
a fountain. They feem to be equally affecfled by 
the extremics of heat and cold; and, in order Ki 
avoid the former, frequently take ftielter in the 
moft obfcure receffes of forefts, or plunge into the 
water, and fwim from the continent to iflands at 
the diftance of feveral leagues from the fliore. 
Thefe creatures fubfift chiefly on vegetables, and 
feem to entertain a perfect abhorrence for animal 
food. When any individual of their fociety hap- 
pens to difcover a fpot of good pafture, he invites 
his companions to partake of the repaft ; though it 
muft be a very extenfive traft indeed that can fur- 
nifti provifion for the whole band; and as their 
broad heavy feet fink deep at every ftep, and 
deftroy much more pafturage than they them- 
felves devour, they are on that account frequently 
compelled to change their quarters, and even to 
migrate from one country to another. The In- 
dians and negroes, who are often incommoded by 
thefe vifitants, endeavour to keep them at a dif- 
tance by making loud noifes, and kindling large 
fires contiguous to their cultivated grounds : but 
fuch precautions do not always fuccced ; for troops 
of them often break through their fences, deftroy 
their whole harveft, and overturn tlieir little habi- 
tations; and, when fully fatiated, march back again 
to the woods in a very regular manner. 
Such are the habits of the Elephant, confidered in 
a focial light: but, if we regard it as an individual, 
v/efliall find it's powers ftill more extraordinary ; for, 
notwithftanding it's very aukward and unpromifing 
appearance, it poffeffes all it's fcnfcs in great per- 
feftion, and is capable of applying them to more 
ufcful purpofes than any other quadruped. This 
animal, as already obferved, has very fmall eyes, 
when compared to the enormous bulk of it's body; 
but, though their minutenefs may at firft fight 
carry an appearance of deformity, when we exa- 
mine them more clofely, they exhibit a variety of 
expreffion, and difcover the various fenfations with 
vt^hich the creature is aftuated: it turns them with 
a pleafing attention to it's mafter, feemingly as if 
to reflect and deliberate; and, as it's paffions fol- 
low each other in flow fucceffion, their various 
workings are diftinflly obferved. 
Nor is the Elephant lefs remarkable for it's 
quicknefs of hearing: it's ears, which are extremelv 
large, even more bulky in proportion than thofe of 
the afs, are ufually dependent, but capable of be- 
ing elevated and moved at pleafure; and with 
them the animal wipes it's eyes, in order to repel 
the duft and flies which would otherwife greatlv 
incommode them. It appears to be exceedingly 
delighted with mufic; and very readily learns ro 
beat time, to move in meafure, and even with it's 
voice to accompany the drum and trumpet. This 
animal's fenie of fmelling is nor only very exquifite, 
but is in a great meafure adapted to the fame odours 
which are grateful to mankind; for the creature 
gathers flowers with apparent pleafure and atten- 
tion, picking them up one by one; and afterwards 
unites them in a nofegay, feemingly cliarmed with 
their perfume. The orange-flower in particular 
appears to be peculiarly agreeable both to it's tafte 
and fmell ; for it ftrips the tree of all it's verdure, 
and eats every part of it, even to the very branches : ' 
it alfo fearches out the moft odoriferous plants 
which grow in the meadows ; and, with refpedt to 
the v/oods, it fhews a prediledlion for the cocoa, the 
banana, the palm, and the fago trees ; the flioots of 
which being tender, and filled with pith, it not only 
devours the leaves and fruit, but alfo the trunk, 
and the entire plant to it's very root. 
