THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA. ll‘J 
Even at a very early period, the Indian kings 
employed immense troops of Elephants, and 
several thousands were brought to the field. In 
the wars of Alexander, however, they scarcely 
exceeded four or five hundred ; and during the 
height of the Roman Empire, from thirty to two 
hundred were all that could be mustered. 
In the east, at the present time, the Elephant is 
only employed in carrying baggage, or in assisting 
to drag artillery ; they do not enter into the 
general engagement, but their use to an army on 
its march is incalculable. They exhibit much 
sagacity in the exercise of their strength, and effect, 
in a degree proportioned to their superior powers, 
the labour of bullocks and horses. Their exertions 
are made by either pushing, or dragging, or lifting. 
The forehead is generally defended with strong 
leather, and is the principal part employed in 
pushing ; and where more than one is employed, 
they will act in concert, to render their efforts 
more effectual. Although still an attendant to a 
limited extent on the courts of the East, and valu- 
able for the production of ivory, fortunately the 
Elephant does not now hold the same scale of 
utility it formerly did ; for the hundreds of thou- 
sands of these animals which were then taken 
have tended, in India at least, to diminish their 
numbers, and to increase the difficulty of 
procuring them. In Africa, the capture, on 
account of their tusks, is great ; and at Darfur, 
