290 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



than those of the other varieties, seldom exceeding eighteen 

 inches in length. They are finely polished with constant rubbing 

 against the trees. The skull is remarkably formed, its most strik- 

 ing feature being .rie tremendous thick ossification in which it 

 ends above the nostrils. It is on this mass that the horn is sup- 

 ported. The norns are not connected with the skull, being at- 

 tached merely by the skin, and they may thus be separated from 

 the head by means of a sharp knife. They are hard and per- 

 fectly solid throughout, and are a fine material for various articles, 

 such as drinking-cups, mallets for rifles, handles for turner's 

 tools, &c., &c. The horn is capable of a very high polish. The 

 eyes of llie rhinoceros are small and sparkling, and do not readily 

 observe tne hunter, provided he keeps to leeward of them. The 

 skin is extremely thick, and only to be penetrated by bullets hard- 

 ened with solder. During the day the rhinoceros will be found 

 lying asleep or standing indolently in some retired part of the 

 forest, or under the base of the mountains, sheltered from the 

 power of the sun by some friendly grove of umbrella-topped 

 mimosas. In the evening they commence their nightly ramble, 

 and wander over a great extent of country. They usually visit 

 the fountains between the hours of nine and twelve o'clock at 

 night, and it is on these occasions that they may be most success- 

 fully hunted, and with least danger. The black rhinoceros is 

 subject to paroxysms of unprovoked fury, often plowing up the 

 ground for several yards with its- horns, and assaulting large bushes 

 in the most violent manner. On these bushes they work for hours 

 *vith their horns, at thf same time snorting and blowing loudly, nor 

 do they l^ave them in general until they have broken them into 

 pieces. The rhinoceros is supposed bj many and by myself 

 among the rest, to be the animal alluded to by Job, chap, xxxix., 

 verses 10 and 11, where it is written, "Canst thou bind the 

 unicorn with his band in the furrow ? or will he harrow the 

 valleys after thee ? wilt thou trust him because his strength is 

 great ? or wilt thou leave thy labor to him ?" evidently alluding to 

 an animal possessed of great strength and of untamable disposition, 

 for both of which the rhinoceros is remarkable. All the four 



