HUNTING THE RHINOCEROS. 211 



disembowelling him with his tusk at a single blow. If, 

 however, his first attack is imsuccessful, the elephant 

 immediately crushes him w^ith his greater strength and 

 weight, and kills him before he can make a second 

 lunge. 



Although of little intelligence, he is sometimes domes- 

 ticated and his unreasoning strength turned to use about 

 the farm. 



The natives are very fond of rhinoceros flesh, and to 

 obtain it, take advantage of the animal's slowness in 

 turning, creeping silently into his lair, approaching him 

 from behind, and, before he can turn to gore them, 

 burying a spear in his heart. Should the blow miss 

 its aim, the hunters, who practise this dangerous sport 

 in couples, spring upon trained horses that they have 

 in readiness, and are off like the wind. 



The animal's enormous appetite and thirst prevents 

 his staying long in any one spot, and only then, where 

 the food is very abundant, as he consumes two hun- 

 dred pounds a day. Besides the flesh, the horns are 

 greatly valued by the superstitious natives, and cups 

 made from them are supposed to render harmless any 

 liquor they may contain, and knives and swords with 

 horn handles are believed never to miss their man. 

 From the heart's blood is prepared a sacred philter cur- 

 ing fevers, serpent bites, and wounds received in battle ; 

 while from the teeth and nails are made rosaries which 

 protect from spirits, wizards, and even death itself. In 



