10'2 PACIIYDEKMES. 



The animals composing this group are not so 

 conspicuous for their common utility as the 

 ruminating animals. They, without doubt, hold 

 their place in the balance of creation, lending 

 their aid in the consumption of the vegetation of 

 the Tropics ; but the Elephants and Pigs are the 

 only genera which have been subjected by domes- 

 tication to be of direct use to man. Without the 

 Elephant, we should be in much difficulty over all 

 our eastern possessions ; heavy baggage, or the 

 accompaniments to an army, would be ill trans- 

 ported without his giant help, while in the more 

 luxurious modes of travelling, and in the sports 

 of the East, he is indispensable. Pigs are now 

 almost universally bred and fattened, yielding an 

 immense revenue, and serving to maintain in part 

 our navy and large establishments. The Tapirs 

 of America, though not hitherto used, are, from 

 their mild temper and dispositions, thought 

 capable of being trained as beasts of burden, and 

 might prove useful from their great strength. 

 Thongs, leather, and whips are made from the 

 hides of the largest of this family ; and the Cape 

 colonist would be badly off indeed, in his rugged 

 roads, and unwieldy weighty wagon, could he 

 not provide a harness of a substance proportionate 

 to the stress to be borne, and he finds it in the skins 

 of the Hippopotamus and Rhinoceros, made limber 

 and preserved from the sun by their own grease. 



