130 
ELEPHANT, 
mal led into the field of battle,, and wondering* at 
those tumults and that madness which he is com- 
pelled to increase. The elephant is a native of 
Africa and Asia, being found neither in Europe 
nor America. In Africa he still retains his na- 
tural liberty. The savage inhabitants of that 
part of the world, instead of attempting to subdue 
this powerful creature to their necessities, are 
happy in being able to protect themselves from 
his fury. Formerly, indeed, during the splendor 
of the Carthaginian empire, elephants were used 
in their wars ; but this was only a transitory 
gleam of human power in that part of the globe ; 
the natives of Africa have long since degene- 
rated, and the elephant is only known among 
them from his devastations. However, there are 
no elephants in the northern parts of Africa at 
present, there being none found on this side of 
Mount Atlas. It is beyond the river Senegal that 
they are to he met with in great numbers, and so 
down to the Cape of Good Hope, as well as in 
the heart of the country. In this extensive region 
they appear to be more numerous than in any 
other part of the world. They are there less 
fearful of man ; less retired into the heart of 
the forests ; they seem to be sensible of his im- 
portance and ignorance, and often come down to 
ravage his little labours. They treat him with 
the same haughty disdain which they show to 
other animals, and consider him as a mischievous 
little being, that fears to oppose them openly. 
But although these animals are most plentiful 
in Africa, it is only in Asia that the greatest ele- 
phants are found, and rendered subservient to 
human command. In Africa, the largest do not 
exceed ten feet high ; in Asia, they are found 
from ten to fifteen. Their price increases in pro- 
