ON THE FOSSIL BONES OF THK ELEPHANT. 269 



bian behemoth, used in the book of Job to indicate an unknown 

 animal of immense size. Others again trace it to the word mehemoth, 

 an epithet which the Arabians are in the habit of adding to the name 

 of an elephant (fihl) of extraordinary size *. It is by the name of 

 horns of the mammont (mammontovakost) that the Siberians desig- 

 nate the fossil tusks, which are so numerous and so perfect, particu- 

 larly in the northern provinces, that they are used for the same pur- 

 poses as fresh ivory, and form so important an article of commerce, 

 that the czars formerly made an effort to acquire a monopoly of that 

 article f . 



This fable of a subterraneous animal is likewise prevalent among the 

 Chinese ; they call the teeth of the mammouth tien-schu-ya (teeth of 

 tien-schu). In the great natural history, Bun-zoo-gann-mu, composed 

 in the sixteenth century, we find the following article on the tien- 

 schu. 



" The animal called tien-schu, of which mention has been made in the 

 very old work on the ceremonial, intitled Ly-ki (a work written in the 

 fifth century before Christ), is also called tyn-chu, or yn-schu, that is to 

 say, the mouse that conceals itself. It abides in subterraneous 

 caverns : it resembles a mouse, but is equal to an ox or a buffalo in 

 size. It has no tail, and is of a dusky colour. It is very strong, and 

 scoops out dens in th.e rocks and forests." 



Another writer, quoted by the former, expresses himself in these 

 terms : — 



" The tyn-schu confines itself solely to the most obscure and 

 unfrequented places. It dies the instant it meets the rays of the sun 

 or moon. Its feet are disproportionably small, which causes it to walk 

 badly. Its tail is a Chinese ell long. Its eyes are small and its neck 

 curved. It is very lazy and stupid. At the period of the inundation 

 of the river Tan-schuann-tuy (in 1751) great numbers of tyn-schu 

 appeared in the plain : they live on the roots of the plant fu-kia." 



These curious details are extracted from a note communicated to the 

 Academy of Petersburg, by M. Klaproth, and published by M. Ti- 

 lesius, in the Memoirs of that Academy, vol. v, p. 409. 



M. Klaproth furthermore states, that, having consulted a Mantchou 

 manuscript, he found the following passage : — 



" The animal named fin-schu is only found in the cold regions 

 on the banks of the river Tai-tunn-giann, and more northward, as 

 far as the northern ocean. In shape it resembles a mouse, but in 

 size it equals the elephant. It dreads the light, and conceals itself 

 in obscure grottos beneath the earth. Its bones are as white as 

 ivory, very easily worked, and without cracks. Its flesh is very cold 

 and very wholesome." 



Probably it is the profit produced by these tusks of the mam- 

 moth which has stimulated the Russians and the other tribes in- 

 habiting Siberia to seek them out, and which has led to the dis- 

 covery of such quantities of the bones of that animal throughout that 

 vast country : add to this, that the immense rivers which fall into the 



* Strahlenberg, p. 403 of the English Translation, 

 f Present State of Russia, by Sloane. 



