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