THE RHINOCEROS. 105 



ros is faid to attack and fometimes mortally 

 wound the iargeft elephants, whofe tall legs give 

 the rhinoceros an opportunity of ftriking, with 

 his fnout and horn, their bellies, where thefkin 

 is moll tender and penetrable. But, if he mifles 

 his firft blow, the elephant throws him on the 

 ground and kills him. 



The horn of the rhinoceros is more efteemed 

 by the Indians than the ivory of the elephant, 

 not on acount of its real utility, though they 

 make feveral toys of it with the chifel and tur- 

 ner's lathe, but on account of certain medicinal 

 qualities they afcribe to it*. The white horns, 



being 



* Sunt in regno Bengalen rhinocerotes Lufitanls Abadat 

 dic~li, cujus animalis corium, dentes, caro, fanguis, ungalae, et 

 caeterae ejus partes, toto genere refiftunt venenis ; qua de 

 caufa in maximo pretio eft apud Indos. — In thofe parts of 

 Bengal which border on the Ganges, the rhinpeerofes or uni- 

 corns, there called Abades, are very common, and numbers of 

 their horns are brought to Goa. They are about two palms 

 in circumference at the bafe, gradually taper to a point, and 

 ferve the animal as a defenfive weapon. They are of an ob- 

 fcure colour, and the cups made of them are highly efteem- 

 ed> efpecially if they have the power of counteracting poifo- 

 nous liquors ; Voyage du P. Philippe, p. 371. — Every part of 

 the rhinoceros's body is medicinal. His horn is a powerful 

 antidote againft all kinds of poifon ; and the Siamefe make a 

 great article of traffic with it among the neighbouring na- 

 tions. Some of them are Void for more than a hundred 

 crowns. Thofe which are of a bright gray colour, and fpot- 

 ted with white, are moft valued by the Chinefe ; Hijl. Nat. de 

 Siam, par Nic. Gervaife, p. 34 — The horns, teeth, toes, flefli, 

 (kin, blood, and even their urine and excrements, are in great 

 requeft among the Indians, as powerful remedies for different 



difeafes ; Voyage de la Compagnie des Indes de Hollander torn 1 • p- 



417. 



