Tropical fruit tree (but not quite a woolly pack animal)
7A
Carriage placed on the back of an elephant (or homophonically: "___ ___ hell am I supposed to know???")
8A
Nissan model (or a Spanish port city minus a letter)
9A
Some useful tips, as provided
10A
"Yes... ri-i-i-ight there!"
Down
1D
Garlicky dressing
2D
Female graduate
3D
As the grid became quite constrained I _____ no choice but to put some obscure answers in there (if I were trying to sound really posh and old-fashioned that is)