ELEPHANT. 
151 
swiftly as a horse at full gallop. It can travel 
with ease fifty or sixty miles a day ; and, when 
hard pressed, almost double that distance. It may 
be heard trotting on at a great distance ; it is easy 
also to follow it by the track, which is deeply 
impressed on the ground, and from fifteen to 
eighteen inches in diameter. 
In India they are also put to other very disagree- 
able offices ; for in some courts of the more bar- 
barous princes, they are used as executioners ; and 
this horrid task they perform with great dexterity : 
with their trunks they are seen to break every 
limb of the criminal at the word of command ; 
they sometimes trample him to death , 9 and some- 
times impale him on their enormous tusks, as 
directed. In this the elephant is rather the ser- 
vant of a cruel master, than a voluntary tyrant, 
since no other animal of the forest is so naturally 
benevolent and gentle ; equally mindful of benefits 
as sensible of neglect, lie contracts a friendship 
for his keeper, and obeys him even beyond his ca- 
pacity. 
In India, where they were at one time employ- 
ed in launching ships, a particular elephant was 
directed to force a very large vessel into the water ; 
the work proved superior to its strength, but not 
to its endeavours ; which, however, the keeper 
affected to despise. Take away,” says he, 
“ that lazy beast, and bring another better fitted 
for service.” The poor animal upon this instantly 
redoubled its efforts, fractured its skull/ and died 
upon the spot. 
In Deli, an elephant, passing along the streets, 
put his trunk into a tailor's shop, where several 
people were at work. One of the persons of the 
shop, desirous of some amusement, pricked the 
animal's trunk with his needle, and seemed highly 
