ELEPHANT. 
1 63 
much difficulty in inducing' them to cross the 
bridge at. Arnlieim. The animals had fasted for 
several hours, and a quantity of food was placed 
for them on the opposite side of the bridge. Still* 
however* some time elapsed before they would 
venture themselves upon it ; and at last they 
would not make any step, without first carefully 
examining the planks* to see that they were firm. 
During the time they were kept at Loo* they were 
perfectly tame* and were suffered to range at liber- 
ty. They would sometimes even come into the 
room at the dinner hour* and take food from the 
company. After the conquest of Holland* from 
the cruelty with which they were treated by many 
of the spectators who crowded to visit them* they 
lost much of their gentleness ; and their subse- 
quent confinement in the cages in which they were 
conveyed to Paris* hag even rendered them in some 
degree ferocious towards spectators. They are 
not suffered to range at liberty ; but are kept in 
an inclosure sufficiently large to allow them some 
exercise. This contains their den* and a pond* in 
which* during summer* they often wash them- 
selves. 
Dr. Darwin tells us* that he was informed by a 
gentleman of veracity* that* in some parts of the 
East the elephant is taught to walk on a narrow 
path between two pit-fails* which are covered with 
turf ; and then to go into the woods and seduce the 
wild elephants to come that way* who fall into 
these wells* whilst he passes safe between them. 
The same gentleman says also that it was univer- 
sally observed* that such wild elephants as had 
escaped the snare* always pursued, the traitor with 
the utmost vehemence ; and if they could overtake 
him* which sometimes happened* they beat him to 
death. 
Elephants are said to be extremely susceptible of 
