WEIGHT OF ELEPHANTS' TUSKS. 



THE tusk which Mr. E. G. Loder exhibited to the 

 Zoological Society in 1888, although an unusually 

 large one, is far from being heavier than others that 

 have found their way to some of the south-eastern 

 ports of South Africa. On the occasion that it was 

 shown to that eminent body of savants, I called the 

 attention of the Press to this point, at the same time 

 mentioning larger ones that I was cognizant of. Since 

 then I had two letters from the Zambesi, confirming 

 what I stated at that time. Mr. Loder's tusk, I believe, 

 weighed 184 Ibs., but being much worn at the point, 

 was evidently the working instrument of the beast 

 that produced it ; thus, if its fellow, the non-working 

 one, had been obtained, it would doubtless have 

 scaled four additional pounds. 



At the present moment I cannot lay my hands 

 upon some notes that I made in Zambesia, thus I have 

 to write from memory. The late George Wisbeach, the 

 most eminent and successful of all the interior traders, 

 and who first opened up the country between the 

 Zambesi and Limpopo to commerce, when in partner- 

 ship with "Elephant" Philips, purchased a pair of tusks 

 from Simpopo, then king on the north side of the great 

 river, which weighed respectively 204 Ibs. and 198 Ibs. 

 They were afterwards sold to Messrs. Francis and 

 Clarke, the principal merchants at Bamanwato,and but 

 for the fact that that firm has for some years been 

 broken up, there is little doubt that confirmation of 

 my statement could easily have been obtained from 



