Dangerous Animals Compared. 95 



naturally possessed of a more ferocious temperament than 

 elephants or buffaloes, and, moreover, he is a flesh eater. 

 Further, his capability of taking cover is much greater than 

 either of the former animals. As to the elephant and 

 buffalo, the former is more likely to charge, I think, but he 

 is easy to stop or turn, even with a very small bore rifle ; 

 but once a buffalo means mischief he has to be killed or 

 knocked down, if his charge is at close quarters ; and very 

 few buffaloes charge at a greater distance than fifty yards. 



I think on this account that the buffalo might come 

 second, leaving third place for the king of beasts the 

 elephant. As the term " king of beasts" is usually given 

 to the lion, I think that it should be transferred to the 

 elephant, if by "king" we mean an animal that surpasses 

 all others in strength, and which is invincible in the haunts 

 of wild beasts. 



However, no rule can be laid down, as animals differ 

 greatly as to temperament in different localities, and it is 

 quite impossible to say how any animal will act under 

 given circumstances. 



As this is a book about Africa, I do not wish to write of 

 India or America. In the former country many sportsmen 

 have been killed by tigers, and I think they are every 

 bit as dangerous animals as lions. Many are shot from 

 the backs of elephants or from platforms, except in some 

 districts where it is usual to hunt them on foot. A full- 

 grown Indian tiger would be a match for a big lion, and, 

 although the forequarters of the lion are probably more 

 powerful than those of the tiger, the latter would gain in 

 agility. 



It would be a grand sight to see two of these fine beasts 

 having a fight to the death. 



The rhino, both black and white varieties, does not seem 

 to have caused many deaths, although I have read of a few 

 within the last twenty years. A good many men have 

 been damaged by them, and that grand old sportsman, the 

 late Mr. William Cotton Oswell, had adventures with both 

 varieties when he was hunting in South Africa long ago. 



