378 FEROCITY OP THE RHINOCEROS. 



tacking travelers, or those who passed near his haunts ; and he 

 relates an attack upon a sporting company by the same ani- 

 mal, in the close of the year 1788, as generally known to the 

 army and residents of the district. " Two officers belonging 

 to the troops cantoned at Dunapore, near Patna, went down 

 the river toward Monghyr to shoot and hunt. They had 

 encamped in the vicinity of Derrzapore, and had heard some 

 reports of a rhinoceros having attacked some travelers many 

 miles off. One morning, just as they were rising, about day- 

 break, to go in quest of game, they heard a violent uproar ; 

 and, on looking out, found that a rhinoceros was goring their 

 horses, both of which, being fastened by their head and heel 

 with ropes, were consequently unable either to escape or re- 

 sist. Their servants took to their heels, and concealed them- 

 selves in the neighboring jungle ; and the gentlemen had just 

 time to climb up into a small tree not far distant, before the 

 furious beast, having completed the destruction of the horses, 

 turned his attention to their masters. They were barely 

 out of his reach, and by no means exempt from danger, es- 

 pecially as he assumed a threatening appearance, and seemed 

 intent on their downfall. After keeping them in dreadful 

 suspense for some time, and using some efforts to dislodge 

 them, seeing the sun rise, he retreated to his haunt; not, 

 however, without occasionally casting an eye back, as with 

 regret, at leaving what he wanted the power to destroy." 



But the rhinoceros is not dangerous to man alone : all the 

 beasts of the forest dread him, and none venture to attack 

 this truly formidable animal. The lion, if they chance to 

 meet, slinks out of his way. Even the elephant, should they 

 encounter, retreats, if possible, without hazarding an engage- 

 ment. Maj or Lally stated to the author of " Oriental Sports" 

 that he once witnessed, from a distant hill, a most desperate 

 battle between a large male elephant and a rhinoceros, in 

 which the former was worsted and fled. Amral told me 

 that one day, while himself and party were engaged in pur- 



