132 LARGE GAME. CHAP. n. 



dental, although the Kaffirs appeared to think that it had 

 stationed itself there with malice prepense. In August 

 that year a son of the Zulu king died, and, as is customary, 

 all the males of the country were sent to hunt in the bush, 

 and by the act of shedding blood purify themselves and 

 the nation from the defilement consequent on his death. 

 One of the largest regiments, the Tulwane, numbering 

 perhaps 2000 men, came across this brute, and he at once 

 charged it, causing a general flight. This was, however, 

 only momentary ; they came back, and though merely 

 armed with assagais, ultimately killed it, after a hard fight 

 and the loss of four of their number, one of whom, if I 

 mistake not, was an officer, besides several more who were 

 placed hors de combat. There must have been over a 

 thousand spears in it before it fell. 



My first introduction to this animal was by no means 

 a pleasant one. I was hunting as usual, and buffalo having 

 been reported in the reeds which lined a small stream 

 near our camp, I was skirting along them in hopes of 

 finding their fresh spoor; and after going some miles I saw 

 two rhinoceros-birds, which were coming from the same 

 direction as I had, make a swoop, and settle a few hundred 

 yards ahead. On reaching the place I could hear some- 

 thing breaking inside, and as the bank was high and there 

 was a tall dead tree on it, I told my gun-bearer to climb up 

 and have a look. He did so, and on coming down, reported 

 two upetyane. I had long wished to kill one of those 

 animals, as I had already killed all the other species, 

 including a modified form of R. Oswellii, but it would have 

 been foolish to have gone into the reeds after them ; in 

 such cover I should have had little chance of inflicting 



