, RHINOCEROS AND HIPPOPOTAMUS. 143 



tempt to bite, they were seized by the neck and a rough stick or 

 knotty cane rubbed hard over their gums, which gave them a great 

 disinclination to ever again use their teeth in an offensive manner. 



The rhinoceros is frequently tamed in the east, the plan 

 being to confine the animal in a pen built around a small pond 

 of water, and to keep him without food until reduced by hunger. 

 Food is eventually supplied, and withheld again whenever any 

 symptoms of fierceness are manifested. Those in captivity have 

 been captured, in most cases, when young. 



As early as 1685 a live specimen was carried to England 

 from the East Indies, while a few years later another was ex- 

 hibited extensively in Europe. Since then others of the species 

 have been brought to Europe and America. Their behavior is 

 very like a huge docile pig, and they obey some simple orders of 

 their keepers, such as walking around the room on command 

 and exhibiting themselves to spectators, opening and shutting 

 their mouths as directed, and the like. 



One of these animals, still young, habitually indicated a very 

 mild disposition, being very obedient to his keeper, whose ca- 

 resses he received with much satisfaction. He was subject, 

 however, to violent fits of passion, and at such times it was 

 dangerous to approach him. He then made prodigious efforts to 

 break his chains and escape from his bondage ; but the offer of 

 bread and fruits seldom failed to soothe his most terrible con- 

 vulsions. 



Those persons found the most favor with him who ministered 

 the most to his gormandizing appetites ; and, when they ap- 

 peared, he exhibited his satisfaction by opening his mouth and 

 extending to them his long upper lip. The narrow limits of the 

 cage in which he was shut up did not allow him to manifest much 

 intelligence. The object of the keeper was to make him for- 

 get his strength, or forego its exercise ; hence, nothing calculated 

 to awaken his consciousness of power was required of him. To 

 open his mouth, to move his head to the right or left, or to lift 

 his leg were the usual acts by which he was required to testify 

 his obedience. His strength, and the fear that in one of his pas- 

 sions he might break his cage, insured to him the most mild and 

 soothing treatment, and he was scrupulously rewarded for the 

 least thing he was required to do. The distinction he made of 

 persons, and the great attention he paid to everything which 

 passed around, derjjonstrated that,, in more favorable circum- 

 stances, his intelligence might have been more strikingly mani- 

 fested. 



Akin to the rhinoceros is the hippopotamus, a very fine 

 specimen of which was exhibited in this country some years 



