at that period had, of course, some method of capturing them by stratagem; Aristotle, when describing the hunting of Elephants, (that is, for capture, not destruction,) mentions that tame ones were used, which attacked the wild animals, and these, when wearied or exhausted, were mounted by the keeper or master, and governed into obedience by a spear, a method which would require no little share of courage and coolness. In Africa, where great slaughter of these animals has always been effected, the natives are said to ascend a tree, and to spring on the backs of the passing Elephants, slide down by the tail, and, during their short suspension, hamstring the animal.*

Let us now see for what purposes this valuable animal is used, after so much risk and labour are expended on its capture and subjection. In the ancient times of the empires of India, Elephants were the indispensable attendants upon a court and upon nobility, and were esteemed the principal among all the immense number of animals which formed part of the royal retinue. In the ninth century, the Emperor Jehengir is said to have possessed twelve thousand of these animals, while, among the nobles of his empire, forty thousand

* See a very curious old work, Elephantographia Curiosa, 1715.

were thought to be distributed,* a number which, at the present time, far exceeds our ideas of even eastern magnificence, and when combined with the quantity of food, and number of attendants requisite, seems more like an oriental tale than a reality. They were then used for show, for the transport of baggage, and in war. They were fed and treated in the most careful and luxurious manner, with sugar and rice, and long and round pepper, occasionally mixed up with milk; and during the sugar season, each Elephant was furnished daily with three hundred canes for two months. In the travelling expeditions of these ancient kings, either for pleasure or war, from eight hundred to fifteen hundred Elephants were frequently employed in transporting the emperor's baggage, besides nearly an equal number of camels. Those for the battle were separated, caparisoned and protected according to the way they were to be employed, and the enemy they were to encounter; and from two thousand to three thousand of these animals were not unusual during the eastern wars of the eighth and ninth centuries. At the same courts were held almost daily the fights of wild beasts, in which the Elephants took a prominent part, and numbers of these noble animals fell, in giving a barbarous gratification to their royal masters.

* Hawkins, quoted from Ranking.

Even at a very early period, the Indian kings employed immense troops of Elephants, and several thousands were brought to the field. In the wars of Alexander, however, they scarcely exceeded four or five hundred; and during the height of the Roman Empire, from thirty to two hundred were all that could be mustered.

In the east, at the present time, the Elephant is only employed in carrying baggage, or in assisting to drag artillery; they do not enter into the general engagement, but their use to an army on its march is incalculable. They exhibit much sagacity in the exercise of their strength, and effect, in a degree proportioned to their superior powers, the labour of bullocks and horses. Their exertions are made by either pushing, or dragging, or lifting. The forehead is generally defended with strong leather, and is the principal part employed in pushing; and where more than one is employed, they will act in concert, to render their efforts more effectual. Although still an attendant to a limited extent on the courts of the East, and valuable for the production of ivory, fortunately the Elephant does not now hold the same scale of utility it formerly did; for the hundreds of thousands of these animals which were then taken have tended, in India at least, to diminish their numbers, and to procuring them.

increase the difficulty of In Africa, the capture, on

account of their tusks, is great; and at Darfur,