This charming little animal, which ought never to please but when alive, often appeared at Rome among the most elegant dishes of the feast.[XIX-111] At first it was only eaten by caprice: unfortunately for the little animal, it was found to be very nice. THE CAMEL. Aristotle gives the greatest praise to the flesh of this useful animal, and places it without hesitation above the most delicate viands.[XIX-112] The Greeks, his countrymen, thought it worthy of being roasted for the table of sovereigns,[XIX-113] and the inhabitants of Persia and Egypt partook of the same enthusiasm. Rome thought the camel fit for the solitude of the Desert, but not for the ornament of banquets; and really, for this once, Rome appears to have been right. “The flesh of the young dromedary is as good as that of veal, and the Arabs make of it their common food. They preserve it in vases, which they cover with fat. They make butter and cheese with the milk of the female.”--DESMAREST. The ancients, in their wars, made use of dromedaries. The soldiers when upon these animals formed a particular militia. In the Egyptian expedition Bonaparte renewed this ancient custom, and that cavalry caused a great deal of injury to the Bedouins and Arabs. Besides the rider, each dromedary carried provisions and munitions of war. THE ELEPHANT. Certain wandering tribes of Asia and Africa were thought formerly to be very fond of grilled elephant.[XIX-114] The Egyptians went so far in their pursuit of this delicacy, that the King Ptolemy Philadelphus was forced to forbid them, under pain of the most severe laws, to kill one of these animals, whose number diminished every day. The law was disregarded, and the elephant only possessed greater attractions for them.[XIX-115] In our days, also, some semi-savage nations partake of the same taste. Le Vaillant, a celebrated traveller, and a most distinguished gastronomist, tells us that the first time he partook of an elephant’s trunk, which was served him by the Hottentots, he resolved that it should not be the last; for nothing appeared to him of a more exquisite flavour.[XIX-116] But he reserves his greatest praises for the foot of the colossal quadruped. We will let him speak for himself:--