THE BIG GAME OF AFRICA 



morning, Mr. Gelder was awakened by a tremendous out- 

 cry, and, when he had rushed out to investigate, he found 

 that a rhino had broken through the boma, which was too 

 low and thin, and had killed one of his Askaris, who had 

 been sitting at the fire. 



In camping in countries infested with rhinos and lions, 

 the only safe device is to make a strong boma of thorn 

 bushes all around the camp, or else in a horseshoe form, 

 leaving a large camp fire to protect the small opening in 

 the " wall." If this hedge is made eight to nine feet high 

 and ten to twelve feet wide, it gives a perfect protection 

 from rhinos and lions, although instances have occurred, 

 as before related, where both rhinos and lions did not heed 

 the camp fire. However, it very seldom happens that any 

 wild beast ventures too near a blazing fire, particularly if 

 it is of good size. 



According to my own experiences with rhinos, I believe 

 them to be the most dangerous of African game, as one 

 never knows exactly what a rhino will do. As one is most 

 often attacked by these vicious brutes in very dense jungle, 

 it is impossible to see them before they are within a few 

 yards. At such close quarters it is rather unsafe to let 

 the rhino " investigate " any further, and the best thing to 

 do then is to place a bullet in his forehead, for a heart shot 

 will very seldom kill a rhino instantly. I have known 

 of a case where an Englishman shot no less than twelve 

 bullets from a .500 Express rifle into the body of a rhino, 

 two of which bullets had touched the heart, and two or 

 three penetrated the lungs. Yet the hunter was killed by 

 this rhino, which, after goring his antagonist, walked over 

 a hundred yards away before he fell. 



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