VIRTUE OF THE HORNS THE CHASE. 381 



" The horn of the rhinoceros," Kolben tells us, " will not 

 endure the touch of poison. I have often been a witness to 

 this. Many people of fashion at the Cape have cups turn'd 

 out of the rhinoceros horn. Some have them set in silver, 

 and some in gold. If wine is pour'd into one of these cups, 

 it immediately rises and bubbles up as if it were boiling ; and 

 if there be poison in it, the cup immediately splits. If poi- 

 son be put by itself into one of those cups, the cup, in an in- 

 stant, flies to pieces. Tho' this matter is known to thou- 

 sands of persons, yet some writers have affirm'd that the 

 rhinoceros horn has no such virtue. The chips made in turn- 

 ing one of those cups are ever carefully sav'd, and return'd to 

 the owner of the cup, being esteem'd of great benefit in con- 

 vulsions, faintings, and many other illnesses." 



The chase of the rhinoceros is variously conducted in South- 

 ern Africa. One of the most approved plans is to stalk the 

 animal either when feeding or reposing. If the sportsman 

 keep well under the wind, and there be the least cover, he 

 has no difficulty in approaching the beast within easy range, 

 when, if the ball be well directed, the prey is usually killed 

 on the spot. With a little precaution, this kind of sport 

 may be conducted without greatly endangering a person's 

 safety. 



But by far the most convenient way of destroying this an- 

 imal is to shoot him from the " skiirm" as he comes to the 

 pool to quench his thirst. In this manner I have myself 

 killed several scores of rhinoceroses. 



Occasionally he is also taken in pitfalls, which are con- 

 structed in pretty much the same manner as those for the 

 capture of elephants and other large game. 



He is not often pursued on horseback, and chiefly because 

 his speed and endurance are such that it is very difficult to 

 come up with and follow him, to say nothing of the danger 

 attendant on such a course. Many a hunter, indeed, has 

 thereby endangered, his life. 



