EL E 
through oftentation, or for the pitrpofes of re- 
moving their feraglios ; but they are feldom op- 
pofed to fire-arms, as they then frequently turn on 
their leaders. Still, however, in thofe remote 
parts of the eaft, where war is carried on among 
the natives only, and where the European arts 
of deftrudtion have not yet been introduced, as 
in Siam, Cochin - China, Tonquin, and Pegu, 
thefe animals are brought into the field, each 
armed before with coats of mail, and loaded 
on the back witii a fqu.ire tower containing from 
five to feven combatants. On the neck fits the 
conduftor; who, goading the creature into the 
thickeft ranks, prompts it to increafe the de- 
vafiation: wherever it advances, no power can 
withftand it's fury; it levels multitudes by means 
of it's enormous bulk, flings fome of the anta- 
gonifis into the air, and crufhes others to death 
under it's feet. In the mean time, thofe who are 
fituated on the aniinal's back engage their enemies 
as from an eminence, difcharging their weapons 
with double force, as the weight increafes their ve- 
locity. 
To men unacquainted with the modern arts of 
war, nothing can be more formidable or irre- 
fiilible than fuch a moving machine: the Ele- 
•^hant, thus armed and conduced, raging in the 
midft of a field of battle, infpires more dread than 
even thofe inftruments which deftroy at a diftance, 
and are frequently moil fatal when unfeen. This 
method of combating, however, is more awful than 
efi'edtual ; and polifhed nations have ever prevailed 
over thofe barbarous troops which have either 
called in the affiftance of the Elephant, or at- 
tempted to gain the victory merely by a terrific 
difplay. The Romans quickly learned the art of 
opening their ranks, in order to admit the Ele- 
phant ; and, thus cutting it off from all alTiftance, 
quickly compelled it's leaders to calm the ani- 
mal's fury, and to fubmit. It fometimes alfo hap- 
pened, that the creature became impatient of con- 
troul ; and, inftcad of aflifting, deftroyed it's con- 
dudlors. In either cafe, there was great prepara- 
tion to very little effedt; for a fingle Elephant is 
known to require as much daily fuftenance as is 
fufficient for forty men. 
At prefent, indeed, the Elephant is principally 
ufed as a beaft of burden throughout the whole 
peninfula of India; and for this employment no ani- 
mal in nature can be better adapted. It's ftrength 
being equal to it's bulk, it is capable of drawing 
with facility what fix horfes are unable even to 
move ; it can readily carry on it's back three or 
four thoufand weight; on it's tufi<:s alone it can 
fuoport near one thoufand ; and it's force may alfo 
be eftimated from the velocity of it's motion when 
compared to the magnitude of it's body. It's or- 
dinary pace is as quick as that of the horfe on an 
eafy trot; and, when pufhed, it moves as fwiftly as 
that animal at full gallop. It can accomplifh a 
journey of fifty or fixty miles in one day with great 
eafe; and, when hard prefled, almoft double that 
number. It's trot is ufually heard at a great dif- 
tance; and the creature may be eafily traced, it's 
impreflions on the ground being very deep, and 
nearly eighteen inches in diameter. 
In India, Elephants are alfo deputed to very 
difagreeable offices ; for, in the courts of the more 
barbarous princes, they are ufed as executioners: 
which horrid tafl<s they perform with great dex- 
terity; breaking every bone of a criminal with 
their trunks, trampling him to death, or impal- 
ELE 
ing him on their enormous tufks, according to 
the will of the inhuman commanders. But in 
thefe offices the Elephant is merely the fcrvant 
of a cruel mailer, and not a voluntary tyrant; 
fince no animal of the foreft is naturally' more 
benevolent and gentle : equally mindful of bene- 
fits, and fenfible of negleft, it contrails a friend - 
fhip for it's benefaftors, and obeys them even 
beyond the extent of it's natural ftrength. 
As a particular inftance of the aftonifhing 
power, as well as fenfibility, of the Elephant, we 
are informed that, on the launching of a very large 
veflTel in India, a tame one was direded to force it 
into the water, when the tafk proved fuperior to the 
animal's ftrength, in fpite of it's utmoft exertions. 
The keeper, however, aff^edling to defpife the poor 
creature's beft endeavours, cried out, ' Take away 
' that lazy beaft, and bring another better qualified 
' for fervice !' when the Elephant inftantly re- 
doubling it's efforts, fractured it's fkull, and died 
on the fpot. 
The following anecdotes, as they are derived 
from the beft authorities, may perhaps ferve to 
elucidate the peculiar qualities and difpofitions of 
this very fingular quadruped. 
In the city of Delhi, an Elephant paffing along 
the ftreets, put it's trunk into a taylor's ftiop, where 
feveral people were at work. One of the men, 
either for the fake of amufement, or from miotives 
of brutality, pricked the animal's trunk with his 
needle, and feemed to entertain himfelf exceedingly 
with this pitiful atchievement. The Elephant, 
however, pafl^ed on without betraying any figns of 
immediate refentment; but, coming to a^ dirty 
puddle, filled it's trunk with part of the contents, 
returned to the charge, and fpurting the foul wa- 
ter all over the finery on which the taylors were 
employed, thus amply revenged the infult. 
In Adfmcer, an Elephant which frequently 
paflTed through the public bazar, as it approached 
a certain herb- woman, had always received from 
her hands a mouthful of greens. Being one day 
feized with a periodical fit of madnefs, the animal 
inftantly broke it's fettersj and, running through 
the market, put the whole crowd of buyers and 
fellers to flight, among whom was his old bene- 
faftrefs, who had, in her hafte, left her little child 
at the ftall : but the animal, fuddenly recollefting 
the fpot where fhe was accuftomed to fit, lifted up 
the infant gently with it's trunk, and conveyed it 
to a place of fecurity. 
At the Cape of Good Hope, where it is cuftomary 
to hunt Elephants for the fake of their teeth; 
and, where three horfemen well mounted, and 
armed with lances, ufually attack one of diefe 
animals alternately, each relieving the other till the 
creature becomes their prey; three Dutchmen, 
who were brothers, and who had acquired laro-e 
fortunes by this occupation, determined to re- 
tire to their native country, in order to enjoy the 
fruits of their labours; but wiftied, before they put 
their defign in execution, to amufe themfelves 
with a final chace. They accordingly fet for- 
wards ; and, foon meeting with an objefl, began 
the attack in their ufual manner: in the interim, 
one of their horfes happening unfortunately to fall, 
thus difmounted his rider; which the enrao-ed 
Elephant inftantly perceiving, feized the unhap-. 
py huntfman, tolled him to a vaft height in the 
air, and received the falling vidlim on one of it's 
tufks. Then turning towards the other two bro- 
thers, with an afped expreffive of revenge and in- 
fult. 
