ELEPHANT’S HAIR

Evening Star, Issue 18093, 7 October 1922, Page 15

ELEPHANT’S HAIR

SAID TO BRIXG GOOD LUCK. Convinced that a ha.ir from tho tail of an elephant converted into a ring would bring her good luck, a woman applied to tho Zoological Gardens. Unfortunately, in captivity elephants rub tho tips of their tails to baldness, so she turned lo the ‘ Daily Mail ’ for help, and her appeal was duly published. Within twenty-four hours hairs plucked from elephants’ tails were coming from all parts of the country to the ‘Daily Mail’ office. They ranged from a stumpy 3in length to a complete dried tail with a perfect brush of 300 or 400 hairs. Some of tho hairs arc a? thick as the lead in a pencil. One hold pride of place ns the finest hair with 13i,in of glossy,. wiry blackness until the record hair came along tied up in whit© silk baby ribbon. It measured 25jin with a few Idnks and' curves still left in it!

Big-game hunters sent their luck-bring-ing contributions with letters, saying: “I shot him in Korthern Rhodesia,” or “lam forwarding herewith one, small hair from tho tail of an elephant I recently shot in Tanganyika territory.” Other letters give recipes for making bracelets or rings of elephant hair. It seems that you have first to boil them until they are tender.

A Tender who was six years in. the mounted police in Africa wears a hair ring made by a. native doctor, and vouches for its luck-bringing qualities. “I have been very lucky with my own life.” ho says, but adds that tho natives believe that tho ring must bo made by a witch doctor. Quo correspondent stated that he had a white elephant hair at home.