1. The elephant is the largest of quadrupeds; his height is from eight to
fourteen feet, and his length, from ten to fifteen feet. His form is that
of a hog; his eyes are small and lively; his ears are long, broad and
pendulous. He has two large tusks, which form the ivory of commerce, and a
trunk, or proboscis, at the end of the nose, which he uses to take his
food with, and for attack or defense. His color is a dark ash-brown.
2. Elephants often assemble in large troops; and, as they march in search
of food, the forests seem to tremble under them. They eat the branches of
trees, together with roots, herbs, leaves, grain, and fruit, but will not
touch fish nor flesh. In a state of nature, they are peaceable, mild, and
brave; exerting their power only for their own protection or in defense of
their own species.
3. Elephants are found both in Asia and Africa, but they are of different
species, the Asiatic elephant having five toes, and the African, three.
These animals are caught by stratagem, and, when tamed, they are the most
gentle, obedient, and patient, as well as the most docile and sagacious of
all quadrupeds. They are used to carry burdens, and for traveling. Their
attachment to their masters is remarkable; and they seem to live but to
serve and obey them. They always kneel to receive their riders; or the
loads they have to carry.
4. The anecdotes illustrating the character of the elephant are numerous.
An elephant which was kept for exhibition at London, was often required,
as is usual in such exhibitions, to pick up with his trunk a piece of
money thrown upon the floor for this purpose. On one occasion a sixpence
was thrown, which happened to roll a little out of his reach, not far from
the wall. Being desired to pick it up, he stretched out his proboscis
several times to reach it; failing in this, he stood motionless a few
seconds, evidently considering how to act.
5. He then stretched his proboscis in a straight line as far as he could,
a little distance above the coin, and blew with great force against the
wall. The angle produced by the opposition of the wall, made the current
of air act under the coin, as he evidently supposed it would, and it was
curious to observe the sixpence traveling toward the animal till it came
within his reach, when he picked it up.
6. A soldier in India, who had frequently carried an elephant some arrack,
being one day intoxicated, and seeing himself pursued by the guard whose
orders were to conduct him to prison, took refuge under the elephant. The
guard soon finding his retreat, attempted in vain to take him from his
asylum; for the elephant vigorously defended him with his trunk.
7. As soon as the soldier became sober, and saw himself placed under such
an unwieldy animal, he was so terrified that he scarcely durst move either
hand or foot; but the elephant soon caused his fears to subside by
caressing him with his trunk, and thus tacitly saying, "Depart in peace."
8. A pleasing anecdote is related of an elephant which was the property of
the nabob of Lucknow. There was in that city an epidemic disorder, making
dreadful havoc among the inhabitants. The road to the palace gate was
covered with the sick and dying, lying on the ground at the moment the
nabob was about to pass.
9. Regardless of the suffering he must cause, the nabob held on his way,
not caring whether his beast trod upon the poor helpless creatures or not.
But the animal, more kind-hearted than his master, carefully cleared the
path of the poor, helpless wretches as he went along. Some he lifted with
his trunk, entirely out of the road. Some he set upon their feet, and
among the others he stepped so carefully that not an individual was
injured.
DEFINITIONS.--l. Quad'ru-ped, an animal having four feet. Pen'du-lous,
hanging down. Com'merce, trade, Pro-bos'cis, snout, trunk. 3. Strat'a-gem,
artifice. Doc'ile, teachable. 6. Ar'rack, a spirituous liquor made from
the juice of the cocoanut. A-sy'lum, a refuge. 7. Un-wield'y, heavy,
unmanageable. Tac'-it-ly, silently. 8. Ep-i-dm'ic, affecting many people.
Na'bob, a prince in India.