DOWN THE RIVER 



we had to pick our way along narrow river ledges; 

 again the river ran like a trout stream over riffles 

 and rapids, while we sauntered along cleared banks 

 beneath the trees. Had we not been making a 

 forced march under terrific heat at just that time, 

 this last phase of the river might have been the 

 pleasantest of all. 



Throughout the whole course of our journey the 

 rhinoceros was the most abundant of the larger ani- 

 mals. The indications of old tracks proved that at 

 some time of the year, or under some different con- 

 ditions, great herds of the more gregarious plains 

 antelope and zebra visited the river, but at the time 

 of our visit they lacked. Rhinoceros, however, in 

 incredible numbers came regularly to water. Para- 

 doxically, we saw very few of them; and enjoyed 

 comparative immunity from their charges. This 

 was due to the fact that their habits and ours swung 

 in different orbits. The rhinoceros, after drinking 

 took to the hot, dry thorn scrub in the low hills; and 

 as he drank at night, we rarely, encountered him in 

 the river bottoms where we were marching. This 

 was very lucky, for the cover was so dense that a 

 meeting must necessarily be at close quarters. 

 Indeed these large and truculent beasts were rather 

 a help than a hindrance, for we often made use of 

 their wide, clear paths to penetrate some particularly 



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