"elephant/ 
129 
and torment tins animal unceasingly ; to remedy 
which, the elephant tries all its arts ; using not 
only its tail and trunk in the natural manner to 
keep them off, but even 'takes the branch of a tree, 
or a bundle of hay,, to strike them off with. 
When this fails, it often gathers up the 1 dust with 
its trunk, and thus covers all the sensible places. 
In this manner it has been seen to dust itself 
several times a day, and particularly upon leaving 
the bath.' ' 
Water is as necessary to this animal as food it- 
self. When in a state of nature, the elephant 
rarely quits the banks the river, and often stands 
in water up to the, belly. In a stateof servitude, 
the Indians take equal care to provide a proper 
supply ; they wash it with great address ; they 
give it all the conveniencies for lending assistance 
to itself ; they smooth the skin with a pumice- 
stone, and then rub it over with oils, essences, and 
odours. 
It is not to he wondered at that an animal fur- 
nished with so many various advantages, both of 
strength, sagacity, and obedience, should he 
taken into the service of man. We accordingly 
find that the elephant, from time immemorial, has 
been employed either for the purposes of labour, 
of war, or of ostentation ; to increase the gran- 
deur of eastern princes, or to extend their do- 
minions. 
We have hitherto been describing this animal 
in its natural state ; we now come to consider it 
in a different view, as taken from the forest and 
reduced to human obedience. We are now to be- 
hold this brave, harmless creature, as learning a 
lesson from mankind, and instructed by him in 
all the arts of war, massacre, and devastation. 
We are now to behold this half reasoning ani~ 
VOL, i. s 
