272 
THE ELEPHANT. 
The hide of the elephant is converted to a variety 
of purposes. Sparrnan, 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 55 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- 
