Part 4

Joanna and her brother fully verified this observation of their mamma. Several days of nearly incessant rain and storm prevented all possibility of repeating their visit to C——, and when at length the sky cleared, they saw their grandpapa coming up the avenue, they were so fully engaged in their different avocations, that they were easily reconciled to the account he gave them, namely, that discouraged at the state of the weather, which precluded people going to the menagerie, the proprietor had left C——; “therefore,” added Mr. Elmer, “we must be content with what we have seen, and perhaps I may afford you some further amusement, my children, with this sketch-book Alan found out this morning, as it contains a great many delineations of Asiatic animals, particularly of the elephant, employed in the various uses to which its great strength and sagacity are applied. I am come to pass the day with you, if you will spare me a piece of pudding; and Mary desires I will distribute these cakes among you.” This self-invitation gave universal satisfaction. Every one was most willing to give up their share of pudding to dear grandpapa, and Mary’s cakes were pronounced most delicious. Ellen had climbed the envied seat, grandpapa’s knee, and now whispered in his ear “grandpapa, did the elephant shew Mary how to make the nice cakes?” This question was asked by an artless child of her grandfather. For Ellen thought, from their excellence, they must be the handy work of the clever animal of which she had heard so much. “Indeed, little pet, I am not in the secret of their composition, but I am very glad they are good, and please you; I am not come, however, to disturb lessons, we shall have plenty of time; so now off with you at present, while I go and have a chat with your papa.” The children without hesitation retired to their lessons. After an early dinner, the children were invited to grandpapa, who unfolding his sketch-book resumed his anecdotes of the elephant.

The first drawing exhibited was a view of an Indian camp. The tents were white except the mogul’s, which was red, and loftier and more superb than the rest; it was encompassed by an enclosure about ten or twelve feet in height, and guarded by chosen troops. The officers’ tents encircled the emperor’s, arranged according to the respective rank they bear in the army. “The soldiers are attended by their families on these occasions,” observed Mr. Elmer, as he pointed out several carrying their provisions on their heads and the vessels for dressing their repast; whilst their arms were carried by their wives, followed by several children. “In fact,” said Mr. Elmer, “when this eastern monarch takes the field, there is a much greater parade of magnificence than there is of proper warlike spirit. He is attended by his court, his elephants, and almost all the inhabitants of his capital; for there is in the centre of the camp a sort of town, wherein are shops and magazines, where trades are carried on as in a city. But here, children, is what I wish you to observe, you see those finely caparisoned elephants?” “Yes, grandpapa, and what have they got upon their backs?” “Those are small towers, containing the wives of the emperor. Would you like, Joanna, to be shut up in a tower on the back of an elephant?” “Oh no, indeed, grandpapa.” “Then bless God, my dear, you are not an Asiatic, but breathe the free air of Britain.” “Ah, mamma often says she is proud of being an Englishwoman; surely those poor ladies must be very unhappy. Who takes care of them when they are riding upon the elephants?”—“They are attended by guards, appointed for the purpose, my dear; and are not so unhappy as you may suppose, being accustomed from infancy to confinement, and to be subservient to the will of their lord. In this part of the camp, you may observe the elephants who carry the small cannon; they are fired from that situation. Every rajah, or great officer, as well as the sovereign, rides upon an elephant; and the eyes of the whole army are fixed upon their prince. If he fall, it is concluded he must be slain, and the troops all disperse. Thus frequently they change the fortune of the day, as the result might be favourable did they possess firmness and proper discipline. Elephants bred to war, and well disciplined, I have been assured,” added Mr. Elmer to his attentive auditors, “will stand firm against a volley of musquetry, and never give way unless severely wounded. I have seen one of those courageous animals with upwards of thirty bullets in the fleshy parts of his body, and yet perfectly recovered from his wounds.” “Poor thing,” said Joanna, “how much it must have suffered; I wonder how they could do any thing to it, to cure the wounds.”

“Their intelligence is wonderfully displayed on these occasions,” replied Mr. Elmer, “I had once an opportunity of observing the wonderful patience and sagacity of an elephant, which had received a desperate flesh wound from a cannon ball. After having been twice or thrice conducted to the military hospital, where he patiently extended himself to have the wound dressed by the surgeon, he would afterwards go thither alone. The surgeon did whatever he thought necessary, applying sometimes even fire to the wound, and though the acute pain of this application caused the poor animal to utter the most plaintive cries and groans, he never expressed any other tokens than those of gratitude to the surgeon, who by these momentary torments effected his cure after a considerable lapse of time. I have also been informed of another instance of the remarkable sagacity displayed upon a somewhat similar occasion. A young elephant had in the field of battle received a violent blow in its head, the pain of which rendered it so frantic and ungovernable, that it was found impossible to have the part properly dressed: for whenever any one attempted to approach it, it ran furiously off, suffering no one to come within several yards of it. The man who had the care of it at length devised a plan for securing it. By a few signs, he gave the mother of the animal sufficient intelligence of what was required to relieve the wound inflicted on the young one. The sensible creature instantly seized it with her trunk, and held it firmly down, though groaning with agony, while the surgeon dressed the wound; and this service she continued to perform till the animal was perfectly recovered. In many parts of India, also, my dears, as you see in this terrible drawing,” said Mr. Elmer, as he turned over the leaves of his book, “elephants are made the executioners of justice, for with their trunks they will break every limb of the miserable criminals, trample them to death with their feet, or transfix them with their tusks, as they are directed.” “You mentioned the eastern monarchs being borne on elephants to the field of war, my dear sir,” said Mr. Monson, “you doubtless recollect that part of the apocryphal history of our bible, in which it is stated that the elephants of Antiochus were provoked to fight by showing them the blood of grapes and mulberries; and to every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and five hundred of the best horsemen. These were ready on every occasion; wherever the beast was, and whithersoever he went they went also; and upon the elephants were strong towers of wood, filled with armed men, beside the Indian that ruled them.” “Yes! I well remember the passage,” replied Mr. Elmer, “and with the recollection is associated that instance of patriotic self-devotion exhibited in the action of Eleazer, surnamed Savanar, who perceiving that one of the elephants, armed with the royal harness, was higher than any of the others, supposed the king was upon him. He accordingly, it is related, put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get himself a perpetual name. Wherefore he ran upon him courageously, through the midst of the battle, slaying on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both sides. Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and slew him; whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died.” A general exclamation of surprise, not unmingled with horror, at this catastrophe, was made by the children, “And was the king killed, too, grandpapa?” “No, my dear; for it is stated, the rest of the Jews seeing the strength (or power) of the king, and the violence of his forces, turned away from them. Thus by not following up the bravery of Eleazer, they defeated the sacrifice he had made of his own life.” “Look here, Ellen,” said Joanna, as she drew her attention to a drawing Mr. Elmer displayed, “here is a pretty little child; grandpapa will explain why it is so near that great elephant.” “I will so, my dear,” said Mr. Elmer, as he placed Ellen so as she might easily look at the sketch. “The elephants that are trained to carry the luggage of the armies in India, are each under the care of a native Indian; and in an instance of this kind here sketched, the keeper and his wife went, as was their practice, into the woods to collect leaves and shoots of trees for his food, having fixed him to the ground by a length of chain, and leaving their little child (unable to walk) under the protection of the sagacious animal, who not only always defended it, but as it crept about, would, when it arrived near the extremity of the chain, wrap his trunk gently round its body, and place it again in the centre of his circle.” Ellen shrunk at the idea of being lifted up by an elephant. “They say,” observed Mr. Monson, “that in crossing the north bridge at C—— yesterday morning, the caravan containing the elephant was racked so much, it was feared the whole would have been precipitated into the river. This account reminded me of a circumstance which occurred when I was in Holland. Two elephants on their arrival in Holland, as presents to the stadtholder, were conveyed in a vessel up the river Waal to Nimeguen, whence they were driven on foot to Loo. The attendants had the greatest difficulty in inducing them to cross the bridge at Arnheim. The animals had fasted several days, it was therefore thought certain that placing food on the opposite side of the bridge would induce them to pass it. Still, however, some time elapsed before they would venture themselves upon it; and even at last they did not take a step without first examining the planks to see that they were firm. During the time they were at Loo, they were so tame as to be suffered to range at liberty. They would sometimes come even into the banqueting-room, when the company were assembled to dinner, and receive fruit from different individuals of the party. After the conquest of Holland, in consequence of the cruelty of many persons who crowded to see them, they lost much of their gentleness. They were subsequently conveyed to Paris, where they are confined in cages and are even become almost ferocious towards spectators. They are not suffered to range at liberty, but are kept in an enclosure sufficiently large to allow them some exercise. This enclosure contains their den and a pond or reservoir, in which during summer they frequently bathe and refresh themselves.

“Here are two drawings,” said Mr. Elmer, “representing the elephant engaged in useful labour. I was induced to sketch the scenes from the novelty of them to an European eye, and also as displaying the importance of these animals in a country, the enervating heat of which renders manual labour so distressing. To give an idea of the labour an elephant performs, it may be sufficient to remark that all the heavy packages, sacks, bales, casks, &c. transported from one place to another in India, are carried by elephants, which bear their burdens on their backs, their necks, and their tusks; and even their mouths are employed, by giving them the end of a rope, which they hold fast with their teeth. Uniting their wonderful sagacity with their strength, they are never known to injure or to break any thing committed to their charge. From the banks of the rivers, they put the packages into boats, without wetting them, laying them down in the gentlest manner and arranging them as they ought to be placed, and when disposed in the places their masters direct, they will try with their trunks whether the goods are firmly and properly stowed, and if they find a tun or cask unsteady and likely to roll, they will actually go of their own accord in quest of stones to prop and steady it. A gentleman of my acquaintance was a spectator of the scene described in this drawing. You see that ship building?” “Yes, grandpapa.”

“Well, the river here represented is a very fine one, called the Mandova, upon the banks of which is the Portugueze settlement or city, called Goa, built on an island of the same name, divided from the continent by this river Mandova. You see on this side a large area, filled with timber in preparation for ship building? At the time my friend visited the place some men had tied the ends of a heavy beam with a rope, which was handed to an elephant, who carried it to his mouth, and after twisting it round his trunk drew the beam without any conductor to the place where the ship was building. One of the elephants employed, sometimes drew beams so large and heavy that more than twenty men would have been necessary to move them. Judge then how valuable the services of the elephant must be. But what excited particularly the admiration of this gentleman was, that when other beams obstructed the road, the elephant elevated the ends of the one he was conveying, that it might easily run over such as laid in the way.” “That is indeed a wonderful instance of intelligence,” remarked Mr. Monson, “and justly entitles the noble animal to be styled ‘half reasoning.’”

“Here is another war scene, Harry,” said Mr. Elmer, again displaying his drawing. “You perceive how this elephant is employed?” “Yes, he seems pushing something up a high mountain.” “It is a piece of artillery,” remarked Mr. Elmer, “his sagacity is very apparent in this service. While the oxen, which you see are yoked to the cannon, make an effort to pull it up the declivity, the elephant pushes the breech with his trunk, and at each effort supports the carriage with his knee, which he places against the wheel. He seems to understand whatever is said to him, and to take the best means to effect the purpose desired. When his conductor wants him to execute any painful labour, or difficult task, he has only to explain the nature of it, and recite the reasons which should induce him to obey. If this is done gently and encouragingly, success is almost certain; for they have been known so docile, as to sacrifice their lives to their exertions, rather than incur the displeasure or contempt of their master. I was told a remarkable instance of this. They were formerly used in India in the launching of ships; an elephant was employed to force a very large vessel into the water, but the work proved superior to his strength. His master, in a tone of sarcasm, desired the keeper to remove ‘that lazy beast, and bring another.’ The poor animal instantly renewed his efforts, fractured his skull, and died on the spot.” “I am not sorry for his cruel master,” said Harry indignantly, “he did not deserve to have such a noble beast. I dare say he was sorry enough when the poor thing dropped down dead.”

“It is indeed basely cruel to tax the strength of any dumb animal beyond its powers,” replied Mr. E.—“too many instances of this barbarity daily occur to our observation: even this morning, as I was coming hither, I met a man with a poor half-starved ass, on which he had placed two immense trusses of hay and a sack of potatoes, with two boys seated thereon nearly as big as the animal, each of them bearing a large basket of turnips, and a huge stick with which they beat about the poor animal’s head; while the brute who followed with a similar sort of bludgeon, incessantly urged his poor slave on by beating it behind.” “These instances of wanton cruelty, are indeed a disgrace to the lower orders of our civilized land,” said Mr. Monson, “which nothing but the universal dissemination of the compassionate doctrines of our religion can correct; and it is some consolation to find, that the individuals we observe guilty of these despotic acts of barbarity are generally ignorant of the principles of religion. Melancholy as this reflection is, that men _will_ remain in darkness while light is beaming on all sides, yet so it is; and we have still to lament that numberless are the human beings who know not or consider not that they will have to answer for every abuse of the power given them over the inferior creation. Ever recollect, my children,” added Mr. Monson impressively, “that the thoughtless cruelty which we are now so frequently pained to witness towards the inferior orders of created beings, would not disgrace any having the impress of man, did they but know God and study his attributes. To you who do, I trust I need not add, that as every creature is formed with a capability of enjoyment, to deprive it of that right is an offence against Him who created nothing in vain.” As Mr. Monson thought it was the most effectual as well as the most valuable mode of education, to draw moral inferences from passing circumstances, such reflections as the above were very frequent in his familiar intercourse with his children, who so far from considering them sermonizing, naturally desired his remarks, and were grateful for them.

“The tusks of the elephant are called ivory, are they not, grandpapa?” inquired Harry. “Yes, my dear; they are not visible when the animal is very young, but as it advances in growth, they are very conspicuous, and in the full grown animal measure sometimes ten feet from their sockets, weighing one hundred pounds each, and sometimes much heavier. The tusk is hollow to a certain height, and of a hard, solid, and firm substance, and being capable of a high polish, many beautiful toys and ornaments are formed of it. The Chinese and other Asiatics manufacture the ivory into toys of the most exquisite beauty, and of such extreme delicacy as scarcely to appear the work of human ingenuity. Indeed of this product of the wonderful elephant, some of the most admirable ornaments of the eastern palaces are formed. You remember, my children, that Solomon made him a great throne of ivory.” “Yes, grandpapa,” said Joanna, “that was one of the beautiful things that excited the surprise of the Queen of Sheba, when she visited Solomon.” “It is described in the bible,” observed Harry, “as being overlaid too with pure gold; and steps, and a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays: and twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.” “Dear Harry,” said Joanna, without raising her eyes from the drawings, “how well you remember the description of Solomon’s beautiful throne.” Harry laughed, and produced his pocket bible, from which he had read the account.

“That was very magnificent,” observed Mr. Elmer, “it was the king’s seat of judgment, and of public audience; where he showed himself to the nobles and strangers who resorted to him. It was placed, we are told by the Jewish historians, in the midst of a flight of rich pillars of cedar, curiously carved and covered, or rather inlaid with gold. The ascent, as Harry has just read, was by six steps, each step being supported on either side by a small lion, and the arms of the seat with two as large as life. All these, and even the steps themselves, were covered with ivory and gold. There is no mention of ivory till about Solomon’s time. Perhaps he brought elephants out of India, or at least caused a great quantity of ivory to be imported from thence.”

“Surely, grandpapa, there was never any thing so magnificent as the throne of Solomon; indeed all that he had,” remarked Harry. “Though at that time it undoubtedly was unequalled, my boy, yet in after ages we find many accounts of things constructed with great magnificence. [_Note 2._] The throne of the Parthian kings was of gold, encompassed with four golden pillars adorned with precious stones. The Persian kings are stated to have sat in judgment under a golden vine, and other trees of gold, the bunches of whose grapes and other fruits were composed of jewels.”

“As you seem to have got upon a magnificent subject,” said Mr. Monson, “of thrones, and gold, and precious stones, perhaps the description of the great mogul’s famous peacock throne, as given by Tavernier, may entertain you.” “Oh yes, papa,” exclaimed both the children at once. “Well, then, cautioning you not to think I am going to read you a fairy tale, I will fetch the volume from my study.” “Thank you, papa.” In a few minutes, Mr. Monson returned with the volume, from which he read as follows:—

“The great mogul has seven thrones, some set all over with diamonds, others with rubies, emeralds, and pearls. But the largest throne is erected in the hall of the first court of the palace. It is in form like one of our field beds, six feet long and four broad. I counted about a hundred and eight pale rubies, in collets, about that throne, the least whereof weighed a hundred carats,[1] but there are some that weigh two hundred. Emeralds I counted about a hundred and forty, that weighed some three score, some thirty carats. The under part of the canopy is entirely embroidered with pearls and diamonds, with a fringe of pearls round the edge. Upon the top of the canopy, which is made like an arch, with four panes, stands a peacock with his tail spread, consisting entirely of sapphires and other proper coloured stones. The body is of beaten gold, enchased with numerous jewels, and a great ruby adorns his breast, to which hangs a pearl weighing fifty carats. On each side of the peacock are two nosegays, as high as the bird, consisting of various sorts of flowers, all of beaten gold enamelled. When the emperor seats himself upon the throne, there is a transparent jewel with a diamond appendant encompassed with rubies and emeralds, so suspended that it is always in his eye. The twelve pillars also that uphold the canopy, are set round with rows of fair pearl of the most exquisite water. At the distance of four feet upon each side of the throne are placed two umbrellas, the handles of which are about eight feet high, covered with diamonds; the umbrellas themselves being of crimson velvet, embroidered and fringed with pearl. This is the famous throne which Timour began and Shah Johan finished, and is really reported to have cost one hundred and sixty millions and five hundred thousand livres.”[2]

“To us,” observed Mr. Elmer, “to whom jewels are so comparatively rare, as well as the precious metals, the eastern profusion of both seems almost a fable. We are told of a Prince of Persia who had two troops of guards, consisting of a thousand men each; one troop of which bore maces of gold, each weighing a thousand crowns; the other carried maces of silver of the same weight. These were his ordinary guard, and upon extraordinary ceremonies each horseman carried his mace upon his shoulder. I have frequently seen the slaves or servants of the Mahotta chiefs running before them with gold and silver staves of rich workmanship; they are called chopdars, and are a sort of heralds who sing the praises of their chiefs, proclaiming their titles in the hypobolic style of the east. To their lord, for instance, is generally ascribed the power of ‘levelling mountains, of exhausting the ocean, of awing the earth, and making the people tremble at his nod.’”