?.6o BIG GAME SHOOTING 



Ramazan had received rather a shock to his nerves on finding 

 himself at such close quarters. However, he put it into my hand 

 at last, after a delay of perhaps two seconds, which appeared to 

 me much longer, and I quickly planted a bullet on the point of 

 her left shoulder which knocked her over. Reloading before 

 I moved, I saw she was still down, but making desperate 

 efforts to get up ; but as she was lying on her left side with her 

 broken shoulder under her, she was unable to do so, and I ran 

 up and despatched her with a shot in the neck. This was the 

 only time I ever knocked a rhino down on the spot with the 

 shoulder shot, but I took it here because she was too much 

 end on for the neck shot, which I always prefer for these beasts 

 when within a range of 35 yards, as when struck in the right 

 spot they drop dead, and the chances of a charge are removed. 



A rhinoceros when once started is a difficult beast to stop, 

 though a shot from a heavy rifle will generally turn it. Their 

 most determined charge is less to be feared than that of a 

 buffalo or elephant, as they rarely if ever hunt a man, but rush 

 straight on, whether they miss him or knock him down. The 

 only instance I have ever heard of in which a rhinoceros renewed 

 the attack under any circumstances (i.e. wounded or un- 

 wounded) after it had dispersed or knocked down its enemy, 

 happened to Captain Pringle, R.E., when returning from 

 Uganda in 1892. This occurred between Machako's and Kib- 

 wezi, in Ukambani. The beast which, by the way, was not 

 wounded repeatedly charged the men, who were, however, 

 too nimble for it, and it finally amused itself by tossing 

 Pringle's load of bedding about, ventilating it in some half- 

 dozen places with its horn before being driven off. 



When within range, which may be any distance between 80 

 and 30 yards, unless safely ensconced behind a small tree or ant- 

 heap, the stalker should cast a look round immediately to 

 leeward of his position, to see that there is no wart-hog hole or 

 other obstruction, in which he might come to grief, should it 

 be necessary to dodge in case of a charge. The stalker should 

 always endeavour to get within a range of 80 yards, to ensure 



