A GREAT NATURALIST. 73 



Dawn was exceedingly welcome when its advent 

 was announced, for it is useless to deny that both 

 were anxious about our companion ; not that we 

 anticipated anything serious happening to him, but 

 in such a country as this, and following such an 

 avocation as we were, who can tell when and where 

 danger lurks ? The spoor of our nocturnal visitor 

 of last night, as soon as it became sufficiently light, 

 attracted the attention of the people ; with one 

 accord they pronounced it to be that of the ordinary 

 white rhinoceros (7?. simus), which to some extent 

 explains why it departed so hurriedly. If it had 

 been a " keitloa " or " borele," I should doubtless 

 have had another tale to tell, as both these species 

 are far more irascible and destructively inclined than 

 the former. Not that either are to be played with 

 at any time, particularly when wounded. Sunday 

 says that he once saw a fight upon the Black Um- 

 philosi between a " borele " and several elephants, 

 one or two of which were powerful bulls. The 

 engagement occurred at an open water, where there 

 was an abundance of room and drink for all. The 

 rhinoceros was the aggressor, and soon put to flight 

 his more peaceful and much taller neighbours. 

 Andersson, the hardy explorer and able naturalist, 

 mentions having witnessed a similar scene, with the 

 same result. It is seldom a white man has an op- 

 portunity of being present at such a combat. It 

 must, indeed, be a grand sight, and compensation 



