Chap. XXV.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 221 



to the ground, moving' with a mincing gait, whicii 

 ill-beseemed so ungahily and ponderous a quadruped, 

 and uttering, the while, a sound between a grunt 

 and a smothered whistle. In removing the horn 

 with an axe, the brain was discovered, seated in a 

 cavity below it, at the very extremity of the snout — 

 a phenomenon in the idiosyncrasy of this animal, 

 which may in some measure account for its want of 

 intelligence and piggish obstinacy ; as well as for 

 the extraordinary acuteness of smell with which it 

 is endowed. Irascible beyond all other quadrupeds, 

 the African rhinoceros appears subject even to 

 unprovoked paroxysms of reckless fury; but the 

 sphere of vision is so exceedingly limited, that its 

 attacks, although sudden and impetuous, are easily 

 eluded, and a shot behind the shoulder, discharo;ed 

 from the distance of twenty or thirty yards, generally 

 proves fatal. 



On our way from the waggons to a hill, not half 

 a mile distant, we counted no less than twenty-two 

 of the white species of rhinoceros, and were com- 

 pelled in self-defence to slaughter four. On another 

 occasion, I was besieged in a bush by three at once, 

 and had no little difficulty in beating off the 

 assailants. Wild buffaloes, too, might often be seen 

 from the waggons. Riding up a narrow defile, 

 flanked by steep banks, I one morning found myself 

 suddenly confronted with the van of a vast troop of 

 these formidable animals, which were ascending 

 from the opposite side — their malevolent grey eyes 

 scowling beneath a threatening brow. Unable to 



