io6 
ELEPHANT. 
use them as weapons of offence in the same man- 
ner as the male, that is, by putting their head 
above another elephant, and pressing their tusks 
down into the animal. These tusks are never shed, 
and sometimes grow to a large size. In Bengal 
they seldom exceed seventy-two pounds; but those 
brought from other parts of India occasionally 
weigh near 150 pounds each. As the tusks of 
this animal are apt to split, the natives frequently 
arm them with rings of brass. The short foot of 
the elephant is divided into five toes, which are so 
covered with the skin as not to be visible : we only 
see the nails, the number of which varies, though 
that of the toes always remains the same. The 
tail is generally from three to four feet in length. 
It is thin, tapering, and furnished at the extremity 
with a tuft of thick hairs, of a black, glossy, solid, 
horny substance. This tuft of hair is greatly 
esteemed as an ornament by the negro women. 
An elephant’s tail is sometimes sold for two or 
three slaves ; and the negroes often hazard their 
lives to obtain a tail of this kind, as it must be cut 
off with a single blow from the live animal ; without 
which, superstition allows it no virtue. The colour 
of the skin is dusky, with a few scattered hairs 
on it ; and, where it is not callous, is extremely 
sensible. In the fissures and other places, where 
it is neither dry nor hardened, the elephant feels 
the stinging of flies in such a lively manner that he 
becomes very uneasy ; and when other means to 
