We have, I think, sufficient evidence to prove that elephants are more
sagacious, and possessed of greater reasoning power, than any other
animals. They seem, indeed, to have many of the feelings of human
beings. In spite of their size, what activity do they exhibit! what
wonderful judgment! How cautious they are in all their proceedings!
How great is their love of regularity and good order! So gentle, too,
are many of them, that the youngest infant might be safely entrusted to
their keeping; and yet, if insulted or annoyed by a grown-up person, the
same animal might hurl him to the ground with a blow of his trunk, or
crush him with his ponderous feet. I will tell you a few of the
numerous stories I have heard about these wonderful creatures.