THE GIANT PIG OF THE JUNGLE. 161 



9. " As is the case with many other tropical animals, 

 the huge beast awakens to a more active life after sunset. 

 It then hastens to the lake or river to slake its thirst, or 

 to wallow in the rmid, thus covering its hide with a thick 

 coat of clay against the attacks of flies. During the night 

 it rambles over a great extent of country, but soon after 

 sunrise seeks shelter against the heat under the shade of a 

 tree or rock, where it spends the greater part of the day 

 in sleep, either stretched at full length or in a standing 

 position. Thus seen from a distance it might easily be 

 mistaken for a huge block of stone. 



10. " From what has been related of the fury of the 

 rhinoceros, its pursuit must be attended with considerable 

 danger, and thus the annals of the wild sports of Southern 

 Africa are full of hair-breadth escapes from its terrific 

 charge. Once Mr. Oswell, having lodged a ball in the 

 body of a huge white rhinoceros, was surprised to see the 

 beast, instead of seeking safety in flight, as is generally 

 the case with this inoffensive species, suddenly stop short, 

 and, having eyed him curiously for a second or two, walk 

 slowly toward him. Though never dreaming of danger, 

 he instinctively turned his horse's head away ; but, strange 

 to say, this creature, usually so docile, now absolutely re- 

 fused to give him his head. 



11. "When at last he did so it was too late, for, al- 

 though the rhinoceros had only been walking, the distance 

 was now so small that contact was unavoidable. In another 

 moment the brute bent low his head, and, with a thrust 

 upward, struck his horn into the ribs of the horse with 

 such force as to penetrate to the very saddle on the oppo- 

 site side, when the rider felt its sharp point against his 

 leg. The violence of the blow was so tremendous as to 

 cause the horse to make a complete somersault in the air, 

 coming down heavily on his back. 



