EL E 
the throat, down, which it is heard to pour with a 
loud jingling noife. From this mode of receiving 
Tuftion, fome have been led into an opinion that 
th-:- voung Elephant fucks the dam with it's trunk, 
and not with it's mouth; but this is afa6l which no 
traveller has hitherto had an opportunity of afcer- 
taining. 
The hide of the Elephant is as remarkable as 
any other part. It is not covered with hair, like 
the generality of quadrupeds, but is almofi: bare : 
a f':w bnftles, indeed, are fcatrered over the body; 
but in general the hide is dry, rough, and wrink- 
led, and refembles more the bark of an old tree 
than ':he fkin of an animal. This becomes thicker 
every year; and, by a gradual addition of i'ubftance, 
it at length contracts that diforder well known by 
the name of the elephantiafis, or Arabian lepro fy; 
a difeafe to which man himfelf is obnoxious. For 
the prevention of this malady, the Indians rub the 
Eleoijiant with oil, and frequently bathe it, in or- 
der to preferve the pliancy of the dun. Befides 
the inconveniences incident to this diforder, others 
arile from the extreme fenfibility of thofe parts 
which are not whollv callous: on thefe flies fettle 
in pro'iigious numbers, and unceafingly torment 
the animal; to repel which, it exerts every art in 
it's power, ufing not only it's tail and trunk in the 
natu'-al manner, but even laying hold of the 
btcjnches of trees, in order to beat them off; and, 
v/hen rhefe expedients fail, it otl-en ga'hers up the 
duit vv'ith it's trutik, and fpreads it over the fenfi- 
bie pares. 
'VYater feems as neceffary to this animal as food 
itfelf. When in a (late of nature, the Elephant 
feldom quits the banks of rivers, and often im- 
merfes itfelf in the water as high as it's belly. In 
a ftate of fervitude, the Indians are particularly 
careful to provide the creature with a proper fup- 
ply of that element ; they wafli it with great ad- 
drefs; afford it every convenience for alTifting it- 
felf; and, after fmoothing it's fkin with a pumice- 
ftone, rub in oils, effences, and odours. 
Confidering the ftrength, fagacity, and obe- 
dience, of this animal, and the various beneficial 
purpoles which it is c^eftined to fulfil, it is by no 
means furprizing that it fhould be taken into the 
fervice of man : accordingly, we find that this crea- 
ture, from time immemorial, has been employed 
either for the purpoies of war, labour, or oflenta- 
tion ; to increafe the gran' leur of oriental monarchs, 
or to extend their dominions. 
Hitherto we have confidered the Elephant in it's 
natural ftate : but v/e fliall now regard it in a dif- 
ferent point of view; namely, as taken from the fo- 
refl", and reduced to the fervice of man. We are to 
behold this brave, but harmlefs quadruped, learn- 
ing the arts of mankind, and inftruded by him in 
all the horrors of war, maifacre, and devaftation ; 
and to obferve this half-reafoning animial led into 
the field of battle, and wondering at thofe tumults, 
and that martial fervour, which it is itfelf taught 
to increafe. 
The Elephant is an inhabitant of Africa and Afia 
only; and, in moft parts of the former, it ftill re- 
tains it's native liberty. The favages of that quarter 
of the world, inftead of attempting to fubdue this 
powerful creature to their necelTities, are happy in 
being able to protedl themfelves from the efFefts of 
it's fury. Formerly, indeed, while the Carthagi- 
nian ennpire was in it's fplendor. Elephants were em- 
ployed in war: but this was only a tranfitory gleam 
of human power in that divifion of the globe^ the 
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natives of Africa have long fince degenerated, and 
the Elephant is at prefent only known among 
them by it's frequent devaftations. However, no 
Elephants are even now found on this fide of 
Mount Atlas ; though beyond the River Senegal, 
and in the internal parts of the country, they are 
prodigioufly numerous. In thefe extenfive and un- 
peopled regions, they feem, in conjunction with 
other wild beafts, to maintain an undifiurbed do- 
minion : they appear to be but little apprehcnfive 
of man ; and, leemiingly fenfible of his impotence 
and their own power, they often ravage his little 
labours, and treat him with the famiC haughty dif- 
dain as they do other animals. 
But though Elephants are moft numerous in 
Africa, the largeit are found in Afia, where they are 
alfb rendered fu bfervient to human controul. In 
Africa, the talleft do not exceed ten feet ; while in 
Afia they are found from ten to fifteen. Their price 
increafes in proportion to their fize; and, when they 
exceed a certain bulk, their value, like that of jew- 
els, riies as the fancy is inclined to efi:imate. The 
largtft, which are generally defirined for the fervice 
of princes, are maintained at a very great expence. 
Their ufual colour, as already obferved, is a dufl<;y 
black, but fome arc faid to be v/hitc; and thefe, 
being reckoned ineftimable, are appropriated to 
the fole ufe of the monarch, attended on by the no- 
bles, and alrtioft adored by the people. Tachard 
affures us, that thefe white Elephants are larger 
than others; but fome authors maintain that they 
are lefs ; and, from their undoubted fcarcitv, others 
have even been induced to queftion their exiftence. 
The European arts of deflru6tion in war being 
little known in Afia, there are but few eaflern 
princes who do not maintain as many Elephants as 
their finances will admit ; and on thefe animials they 
place their principal dependence during an en- 
gagement. For this purpofe they are caughi wild 
in their native forefi:s, and tamed ; for they never 
breed in a (late of fervitude. It is a fi;riking pe- 
culiarity in the Elephant, that it's generative pow- 
ers totally fail whenever it falls under the dominion 
of man, as if it were unwilling to propagate a race 
of fiaves to increafe the pride of the conqueror. 
Perhaps there is no other quadruped that refufes to 
generate in it's own native climate, if indulged 
with a moderate fiiare of freedom ; and it is well 
known that many will naturally copulate in every 
climate, and under every circumftance. The Ele- 
phant alone has never propagated it's kind ; and 
though it has for ages been fubjeft to mankind, 
the duration of pregnancy in the female fi:ill re- 
mains a fecret. Ariflotle, indeed, afierts that flie 
goes two years with young; that flie continues to 
fuckle her offspring for three more; and that die 
brings forth but one at a time: but this philofo- 
pher gives us no account by which we can judge 
fatisfaftorily of the authenticity of his information. 
From authorities equally queffionable we learn, 
that the little Elephant is about the fize of the wild 
boar the inflant it is produced ; that it's tuflcs are 
not then apparent; that at the age of fix months it 
is as large as the ox, when it's tufks are pretty con- 
fpicuous; and that it continues in this manner, for 
near thirty years, advancing to maturity. Such 
information, however, is not fupported by proper 
evidence: and of this we are fully aifured; namely, 
that in order to recruit the great numbers which 
are annually deftroyed in war, the princes of the 
eaft are obliged to ranfack the forefts, as well as to 
make ufe of various other expedients, for the attain- 
4 A ment 
