THE DANGERS OF -RHINO" SHOOTING 



runs away, rather than on one that stops to fight, for in 

 the latter case the occupant of the howdah is pretty sure 

 to be thrown out sooner or later perhaps into the 

 tiger's very jaws, or at any rate close enough to make his 

 position an extremely perilous one. 



But it is not only in combats with tigers and leopards 

 that the element of danger is present when shooting off 

 elephants, such encounters being equally perilous with the 

 rhinoceros and buffalo especially the former, for the Indian 

 " rhino," as it is familiarly called, is truly a most formidable 

 animal. 



In weight and bulk, almost equal to an elephant, its 

 short, stumpy legs give it a stability not possessed by the 

 latter, and the shortness of its legs in no way interferes 

 with its speed which, when charging, is tremendous ; its 

 charge is practically irresistible cases, indeed, being known 

 of elephants, caught broadside on, being knocked com- 

 pletely over. 



The injuries, too, which it can inflict with its sharp- 

 pointed, powerful horn, sometimes a foot in length, and its 

 strong teeth, sharp at the edge as a razor, makes the 

 animal a most dangerous foe. Hence it is little wonder 

 that with very rare exceptions the staunchest elephants 

 cannot be induced to face a " rhino," much less stand and 

 await its charge. Under these circumstances, to shoot a 

 charging " rhino " is no easy matter, and the sportsman 

 who has been fortunate enough to bag one, under these 

 conditions, has much to be thankful for. 



In the huge, and practically impenetrable jungles of 

 Eastern Bengal and Assam, where these animals are to be 

 found, they can only be hunted on elephants, either by 

 beating in the ordinary way should the jungle be negotiable, 

 or by going after them quietly on a pad elephant, a more 

 certain, though no less dangerous plan, as will be seen 

 hereafter. 



If the first-mentioned method be adopted, the animal 

 must be beaten out of its lair to howdahs, posted at con- 

 venient places, and it may easily be conceived that a 

 naturally slothful, but short-tempered beast like a " rhino " 

 suddenly aroused, perhaps from its siesta, by an advancing 

 crowd of elephants crashing through the jungle, with their 



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