The elephant is the largest of all the land animals, and in intelligence approaches the nearest to man. He understands the language of his country, obeys commands, and remembers all the duties which he has been taught. He is sensible alike of the pleasures of love and glory, and, to a degree that is rare among men even, possesses notions of honesty, prudence¹, and equity²; he has a religious respect also for the stars, and a veneration³ for the sun and the moon.[79] It is said by some authors, that, at the first appearance of the new moon, herds⁴ of these animals come down from the forests of Mauritania to a river, the name of which is Amilo; and that they there purify themselves in solemn form by sprinkling their bodies with water; after which, having thus saluted⁶ the heavenly body, they return to the woods, carrying before them the young ones which are fatigued⁷. They are supposed 61 to have a notion, too, of the differences of religion; and when about to cross the sea, they cannot be prevailed upon to go on board the ship until their keeper has promised upon oath that they shall return home again. They have been seen, too, when worn out by disease, lying on their backs and throwing the grass up into the air, as if deputing the earth to intercede⁸ for them with its prayers. As a proof of their extreme docility⁹, they pay homage¹⁰ to the king, fall upon their knees, and offer him the crown.