THE ELEPIIANTOF INDIA. 123 
introducing any in illustration of its disposition 
or docility ; for, indeed, we scarcely know where 
to find a new one. They have often also been 
twisted to serve the immediate purpose of the 
writer, or exaggerated to maintain some wonderful 
exertion of intellect. Suffice it to say, that, look- 
ing to all our accounts of both the known species 
as impartially as possible, we cannot attribute a 
greater portion of intellect to the Elephant than 
we could to some other animals. In a wild state, 
his actions are all guided by his passions — blind 
fury when attacked — the care and comfort of 
his body — or his attachment for the female ; and 
we have seen his passion, in this latter case, so 
blind as actually to allow him to be taken. In 
captivity, he is docile, possesses an excellent 
memory, and from this qualification performs 
most of his useful labours, for without memory 
or experience he will not undertake any new 
operation, until it is explained. The same faculty 
makes him revenge bad treatment, and long 
remember it. At the periodical seasons, he 
becomes almost as infuriated as when wild, and 
will at times not even obey his keeper or his 
favourites ; and it is necessary, at this time, even 
to allow the animal his liberty to range in the 
jungle, whence he will again return, of his own 
accord, to the charge and company of his 
keepers. 
