186 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



enormous — there are instances in which the measure- 

 ment of 4 ft. 6 in. has been recorded; sometimes 

 the horn projected almost laterally from the snout, 

 in true unicorn fashion. The bulk of this mighty 

 beast was immense. A mature specimen stood 6 ft. 

 6 in. in height, and measured 14 ft. to 15 ft. in 

 length, and weighed, probably, some four tons or 

 more. Even the African elephant, from the com- 

 parative shortness of its body, although standing 

 much taller, bulked scarcely larger than the white 

 rhinoceros. Although usually harmless and in- 

 offensive, this rhinoceros was, when roused or 

 wounded, a dangerous foe. Mr. Oswell, the friend 

 and companion of Livingstone, had an extraordinary 

 escape from the charge of one of these monsters, 

 which attacked his horse, drove its horn clean 

 through the animal's body, and tossed horse and rider 

 over its head. The horse, of course, was killed ; Mr. 

 Oswell himself escaped with a wound and a terrible 

 shaking. Although called white, this rhinoceros 

 varied little in colour from its black relative. In 

 both the colour is a dirty brown ; the white rhinoceros 

 being, perhaps, a trifle paler. This great square - 

 mouthed rhinoceros always carried its huge, dispro- 

 portionate head very low — so low, indeed, that in 

 numerous instances the fore-horn touched the 

 earth, and its under surface became worn away and 

 flattened. Gordon Gumming seems to have been 



