272 THE ELEPHANT. 



The hide of the elephant is converted to a variety 

 of purposes. Sparman, when speaking of it, says : 

 " It is not near so compact and close as those of 

 the rhinoceros and hippopotamus, but the texture 

 of it seems to be composed of larger tubes and 

 blood-vessels ; at the same time that the external 

 surface of it is more uneven, wrinkled, and knotty, 

 and therefore cannot be used for making of whips, 

 as are the skins of the animals above named." 



Its ear is, by the natives and others, converted 

 into a -sort of truck, upon which they draw manure 

 and loads of various kinds ; and by the hunter it is 

 not unfrequently cut off on the spot, and converted 

 into a mat, on which he reposes whilst his people 

 are dividing the carcase. 



Even the excrement of the elephant, which, 

 like sawdust, seems almost imperishable, is con- 

 verted to useful purposes, for, on emergencies at 

 least, it is used by the natives as a substitute for 

 tobacco. Indeed, I have seen my own Cape servants 

 smoke it. The great variety of roots, herbs, bulbs, 

 &c., on which the creature feeds, give, no doubt, a 

 certain aromatic odour to his droppings ; and, after 

 all, these may not be so bad a substitute for the 

 "weed" itself. 



Kolbein testifies to the like effect. His words 

 are : " The Hottentots sometimes gather the excre- 

 ment for smoking, in the want of tobacco ; and, 

 indeed, the scent and flavour of it in smoking are 

 pretty much like it, as I myself have found, when 

 with company I have smoked it out of whim." 



The great value of the elephant, however, lies in 

 its tusks, which form an important article of com- 



