 Reference Base  The commentary of Father Monserrate on his journey to the... |
|
Monserrate, A., 1922. The commentary of Father Monserrate on his journey to the court of Akbar. Translated from the original Latin by J.S. Hoyland, annotated by S.N. Banerjee. London, Oxford University Press
|
|
|
|
| |
| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India |
| Subject: |
Taxonomy |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
 |
|
|
Finally it is extraordinary and well nigh incre- dible what fierce enmity elephants are apt to entertain towards each other. For if two or more have conceived a mutual dislike, they attack each other on sight with great ferocity, dashing headlong together. They never look up towards, much less hurt, the keepers who ride upon them. It is hard to say what a dread elephants have of the rhinoceros, although it is a much smaller beast. Moreover the rhinoceros has an insolent contempt for the elephant. When an elephant sees a rhinoceros, he trembles, cringes, bends down, hides his trunk in his mouth, and humbly retreats until the rhinoceros has passed by. For the rhinoceros attacks from beneath. and buries the sharp horn on his nose in his opponent's belly. Meanwhile the elephant can do him no harm. The elephant sleeps with his trunk in his mouth. He is afraid of ants and still more of mice. He is as fond of water as a buffalo or a pig or any other such animal.
|
|
|
File available
details
Original text on this topic: