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Part IX. 
WONDERFUL ANIMALS, INSECTS, 
^ TREES, &c. 
Elephants. 
The elephant is not only the most tractable, but the most intelligent 
of quadrupeds, although his brain is small in proportion to his 
bulk. He is sensible of benefits, resentful of injuries, and endowed 
even with a sense of glory. In India, elephants were forrnerly em- 
ployed in launching of ships : one being directed to force a very large 
vessel into ihe water, and the work proving superior to his strength, bis 
master, with a sarcastic tone, bid the keeper take away this lazy beast, 
and bring another ; the poor animal instantly repeated his efforts, 
fractured his skull, and died on the spot. 
In Delhi, an elephant passing through the streets, put his trunk 
into a tailor’s shop, where several people were at work : one of them 
pricked the end with his needle ; the beast passed on, but filled his 
trunk in the next dirty puddle with water, returned to the shop, and 
spurting every drop among,the people who had offended him, spoiled 
their work. 
An elephant in Adsmeer, which often passed through the market, 
as he went by a certain herb woman, always received from her a 
mouthful of greens : at length he was seized with one of his periodical 
fits of rage, broke his fetters, and running through the market, put 
the crowd to flight ; among others was this woman, who in haste 
forgot a little child she had brought with her. The animal recollect- 
ing the spot w'here his benefactress was wont to sit, took <up the 
infant gently in his trunk, and placed it in safety on a stall before a 
neighbouring house. 
Another in his madness killed his cornac, or keeper ; the wife 
seeing the misfortune, took their two children, and flung them before 
the elephant, saying, “ Now you have destroyed their father, you may 
as well put an end to their lives and mine.” It instantly stopped, 
relented, took the largest of the children, placed him on his neck, 
adopted him for his cornac, and never afterwards would permit any 
body else to mount it. ' 
A soldier at Pondicherry, who was accustomed, whenever he re- 
ceived the portion of drink that came to his share, to carry a certain 
quantity of it to one of these animals, haying one day drank too freely, 
and finding himself pursued by the guards, who were going to take 
him to prison, took refuge under the elephant’s body, and fell asleep. 
In vain did the guard try to force him from this asylum, as, the ele- 
phant protected him. The next morning, the soldier, recovering from 
