Unferviceable.which are unferviceable for chewing, and are only weapons of defence. It is well known to what an amazing fize thefe tufks grow; they weapons. are two in number, proceeding from the upper jaw, and are fome times found above fix feet long. Supplies. shewed. facquet. ruminated? opening. gargling. 14.This animal is equally fingular in other parts of its conformation; the lips and tongue in other creatures ferve to fuck up and direct their drink or their food, but in the elephant they are totally inconvenient for fuch purpofes; and it not only gathers its food with its trunk, but fupplies itself with water by the fame means. 15. When it eats hay, as I have feen it frequently, it takes up a fmall wifp ofit with the trunk, turns and fhapes it with that inftra ment for fometime, and then directs it into the mouth, where it is chewed by the great grinding teeth, that are large in proportion to the bulk of the animal. 16. This pacquet, when chewed, is fwallowed and never ruminated again as in cows or fheep, the ftomach and inteftines of this creature more refembling thofe of a horse. Its manner of drinking is equally extraordinary. For this purpofe, the elephant dips the end of his trunk into the water, and fucks up juft as much as fills that great fleshy tube completely. 17. It then lifts up its head with the trunk full and turning its point into its mouth, as if it intended to fwallow trunk and all, it drives the point below the opening of the windpipe. The trunk being in this pofition, and ftill full of water, the elephant then blows ftrongly into it at the other end, which forces the water it contains into the throat, down which it is heard to pour with a loud gurgling noife, which continues till the whole is blown down. The 18. The hide of the elephant is as remark- Brifles. able as any other part. It is not covered over with hair as in the generality of quadrupeds, but it is nearly bare. Here and there, indeed, a few bristles are feen growing in the fcars and wrinkles of the body, and very thinly wrinkled. fcattered over the rest of the fkin; but in general the hide is dry, rough, and wrinkled, and refembling more the bark of an old tree, than the fkin of an animal. 19. The Atructure of the elephant is not more uncommon than his talents. Of all docility? quadrupeds, of whofe hiftory and manners we have any proper knowledge, the elephant is most remarkable both for docility and un- afpe ? derstanding. Though his fize is enormous, and his members rude and difproportioned, which give him, at firft fight, the aspect of fagacious? dullness and ftupidity, yet his genius is great, and his fagacious manners, and his fedate and collected deportment, are almost incredible. 20. He is the largest and strongest of all terreftrial animals. Though naturally brave, terrefrial? his difpofitions are mild and peaceable. He is an affociating animal, and feldom appears alone in the forefts. When in danger, or when depredatory? they undertake a depredatory expedition into cultivated fields, the elephants affemblé in troops. The oldeft takes the lead; the next feniority?. in feniority brings up the rear; and the young and the feeble occupy the center. 21. In the forefts and folitudes they move forefis. with lefs precaution; but never feparate fo far afunder as to render them incapable of affording each other mutual affiftance when precaution? danger approaches. A troop of elephants conftitutes a most formidable band. Wherever they march, the foreft feems to fall before formidable ? them. They bear down the branches upon which they feed; and if they enter an inclof Q ure, Invalions? affuilants? trample. pil'ars. petulence? boftile! luxurious ? Janguinary? ferocious? ure, they foon deftroy all the labours of the husbandmen. 22. Their invafions are the more tremen dous,as there is hardly any means of repelling them; for, to attack a troop, when thus unit. ed, would require a little army. It is only when one or two elephants happen to linger behind the reft, that the hunters dare exert their art and ingenuity in making an attack; for any attempt to difturb the troop would certainly prove fatal to the affailants. 23. When an infult is offered, the elephants inftantly move forward against the offender, tofs him in the air with their tusks, and afterwards trample him to pieces under their feet, or rather pillars of fleth and bone. Let not the character of this noble ad majestic animal, however, be mifreprefented. 24. With force and dignity he refents every affiont; but, when not disturbed by petulence or actual injury,he never fhows a hoftile intention either against man or any other animal. Elephants live entirely on vegetables, and have no thirst for blood. Such is their focial and generous difpofition, that, when an individual chances to meet with a luxurious spot of pafture, he immediately calls to his companions, and invites them to partake cf his good fortune. 25. In a state of nature and perfect freedom the difpofitions of the elephant are neither fanguinary nor ferocious. They are gentle creatures, and never exert their ftrength, or employ their weapons, but in defending themselves or protecting their companions. Even when deprived of the inftruction of men, they poffefs the fagacity of the beaver, the addrefs of the ape, and the acuteness of the dog. 26. To thefe mental talents are added the advantages of amazing bodily ftrength, and the the experience and knowledge he acquires by Tears he tears up trees. By a puth of his body he an attack but when he receives an injury, he deportment ? is univerfally beloved; and all animals refpect, because none have any reason to fear him. 27. It is not to be wondered at, that an animal furnished with fo many various advantages, both of strength, fagacity, and obedience, thould be taken into the fervice of man. We accordingly find, that the elephant, fiom inmemorial? time immemorial, has been employed either for the purposes of labour, of war, or of of-. tentation; to increase the grandeur of eaftern princes, or to extend their dominions. grandeur, 28. When tamed and inftructed by man, carefes? the elephant is foon rendered the mildest and moft obedient of all domestic animals. He loves his keeper, careffes him, and anticipates anticipates? his commands. He learns to comprehend figns, and even to understand the expreffion of founds. He diftinguifhes the tones of comprehend? command of anger, and of approbation, and regulates his actions by his perceptions. 29 The voice of his mafter he never nif takes. His orders are executed with alacrity, alacrity? but without any degree of precipitation.. His movements are always measured and fedate, and his character feems to correfpond with traipitation? bend his knees. With his trunk he flutes fedate? 30. He loves to be clothed, and feems wag. Ploughs. area? Beavies. elevated? reftive? booked. durable. paroxyfin? waggons, ploughs, and chariots. I was eye-witnefs,' fays P. Philippe, 'to the fol'lowing facts. At Goa, there are always fome elephants employed in the building of fhips. I one day went to the fide of the ' river, near which a large fhip was building in the city of Goa, where there is a large area filled with beams for that purpose.' 6. 31. Some men tie the ends of the heaviest "beams with a rope, which is handed to the elephant, who carries it to his mouth, and,. after twifting it round his trunk, draws it, 'without any conductor, to the place where the thip is building, though it had only oncebeen pointed out to him. He fometimes drew beams fo large that more than twenty 6 men would have been unable to move. 32. But, what furprised me fill more, when other beams obftructed the road, he 'elevated the ends of his own beams, that they might run eafily over thofe which lay in his way. Could the most enlightened 'man do more?' When at work, the elephant draws equally, and, if properly managed, never turns reftive. 33. The man who conducts the animal generally rides on his neck, and employs a hooked iron rod, or a bodkin, with which he pricks the head or fides of the ears, in order to push the creature forward, or to make him turn. But words are commonly fufficient." The attachment and affection of the elephant are fometimes fo ftrong and durable that he has been known to die of grief, when, in an unguarded paroxyfm of rage, he had killed his guide. 34. Before the invention of gunpowder, elephants were employed in war by the Afriimmemorial? can and Afiatic nations. 'From time im'memorial,' says Schouten, the kings of Ceylon, of Pegu, and of Aracan, have ufed ele. |
