Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-07-03
IVORY INDUSTRY.
Ivory is Extremely Sensitive to
Atmospheric Changes.
HOW ELEPHANTS ARE CAPTURED.
The Value of Ivory Rests Mainly In its
Toughness. Elasticity and Quality of
Taking Polish.

the world is said to have cost the life
of a human being. Most Of this heavy
expense has been paid in the jungles of
central Africa. where man does not
count for half as much as bumped
OK or trained ape. For nature has
built an effectual barrier about her
oultivators of billiard balls-the ele-
phants-and he who would penetrate
it must take his life in his hands. In
atmosphere of great heat, reeking half
the year with moisture in which lurk
the germs of hundred unnamed dis
eases and rent for two seasons with
sudden storms accompanied by heavy
rains. Then there is the barrier of a
rank and tangled vegetation through
which no roads but those of the Jungle
folk have yet pierced. The huge trees
conceal tlerce wild animals, poisonous
makes and insects whose stings mean
death at the end of days of suffering.
impossible morasses, lakes, broad
rivers and mountain ranges are also
numerous, and yet more dangerous are
the jealous savages who have learned
enough of civilization to distrust it
and who know that man never pro
tests against robbery after he is dead.
So the elephant is given chance
to grow little before the harvesters
of the ivory crop can reach him. When
he has trumpeted for few score years
and his tusks have made him power
in the herd some native hunter spies
him as he thrashes through the Jungle
or wades in morass. Then a great
number of the bravest warriors gather
and build huge inclosure of vines
into which the elephant one day walks.
From the surrounding trees come a
shower of arrows and perhaps bullet
or two from an ancient gun obtained
at hundred times its value from some
wandering trader. The elephant
charges about trumpeting, but OF
every side the barrier holds him in.
At last he falls, overcome by numbers.
Then his great tusks are packed away
and row of naked natives carry them
for days through the jungle until they
are placed in the kings treasury as
part of the wealth as we'll as the cur
rency of a nation.
Sometimes the elephant is killed hv
means of huge beam shod on is
under side with stone or iron knife
which is SO arranged as to fall when
the elephant steps under it,
Some tribes have enriched them
selves by finds of s'dead ivory OF
tusks from elephants which perished in
years gone by. The smaller pieces are
frequently used for uprooting stones,
digging in the earth and for various
implements of warfare.
After time traders from England
and from other countries appear and
the tusks are bartered for bright moth.
ings-old fashioned and shop-worr
fabrics. food, whisky and fire.
Then there is another long period Of
transporting the precious ivory on the
backs of natives, with the constan
danger OF attack from hostile tribes
and the treachery of friendly ones
At last it is aboard ship, and afteI
weeks ON the sea it arrives at the grea
ports, where it is sold to carvers ant
manufacturers.
The best ivory comes from Africa
Some of the tusks are form s to 10 fee
long and often weigh ITO pounds. TIL
Indian elephants tusks are mucl
shorter and of less weight and tn
great demand has reduced the suppl.
to an extent that it is now rare to fn'
large tusk. Indian ivory is not s.
good in quality as that from Africa
Much of the ivory used in Russia an,
in other parts of Europe is found il
northern Russia and Siberia in the re
mains of prehistoric mamoths. Wher
the skeletons have always been frozeI
in the earth the ivory is as good as tn
ordinary Indian product, but much G
it has been injured by exposure to tn
weather. Tusks have been foun
which were more than IL feet long an
5 weighed upward of 200 pounds.
The valuo Of ivory rests mainly j
its toughness, it's elasticity and il
: quality of taking high polish. 1t
9 filled with millions of minute hole
a which give it an elasticity which Il
: solid object could ever have. In effet
a ivory is the same substance as.the del
S tine of the teeth, and it is unlike bor
: in having no channels for the passae
q of blood The teeth or tusks of tt
: narwhal, sperm whale. walrus an
$ hippopotamus are also used as ivor!
: but the quality is usually poor.
Q Great skill is required in buyir
s tasks. for the external appearance
often most deceptive. The inside mi
be full of assesses and cracks, al
sometimes the core is filled with piec
g of stones and chunks Of iron by I'll
& tricky natives and no less tricky dea
I, ers.
Il When at last the tusk reaches Il
It manufacturer of billiard balls it
again examined very carefully I