198 THE ISLAND OF JAVA. 
bladder of which is sometimes found a stone, called by 
the Portugiieze the Pedra da Porco. To this stone the 
Dutch ascribe many wonderful properties. When put into 
a glass of Avine for about an hour it communicates its virtues 
to the liquor, which then becomes an infallible remedy for all 
kinds of poison, for obstructions, fevers, agues, and a variety 
of diseases. Like the Antimon 'ml Cup^ the Tech' a da Porco is 
a standing family medicine. 
Another species of wild hog, the Sus Hahyroussa, is also 
common in the woods of Java. Philosophers had long 
puzzled themselves in conjecturing what the design of nature 
could be (as she does nothing without design) in giving to 
this animal a pair of large curved tusks, pointing inwards to 
the face in such a manner, as made it sufficiently clear they 
could not be used either for attack or defence, for procuring 
food, or for assisting the mastication of it when procured. 
But as nature has made nothing in vain, it was necessary to 
assign some purpose for the tusks of the Bahyroussa. At 
length it occurred, or was discovered, but by whom I do not 
recollect, that the animal is fond of sleeping in a standing 
posture and tliat, having a large ponderous, head, it finds a 
conveniency in hanging it upon the branch of a tree or shrub 
within the reach of its tusks, which serve on such occasions 
for hooks. This is at least an ingenious discovery, and may 
be true ; but if so, the habits of the animal must vary ac- 
cording to local circumstances. The same species, or one so 
like it that the difference is not distinguishable by any de- 
scription or drawing that I have seen, is common among the 
roaks on the deserts of Southern Africa, where, within the 
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