DOUBLE-HORNED RHINOCEROS. l6<) 



Strength and celerity. 



low in the trunk as he finds his horns will enter, 

 he rips up the body of the tree, and reduces it to 

 thin pieces like so many laths ; and when he has 

 thus prepared it, he embraces as much of it as he 

 can in his monstrous jaws, and twists it round 

 with as much ease as an ox would do a root of 

 celery, or any small plant. 



" When pursued, and in fear, he possesses an 

 astonishing degree of swiftness, considering his 

 size, the apparent unwieldiness of his body, his 

 great weight before, and the shortness of his legs. 

 He has a kind of trot, which, after a few minutes, 

 increases in a great proportion, and takes in * 

 considerable distance; but this is to be under- 

 Stood with a degree of moderation. It is not 

 true that in a plain he beats the horse in swift- 

 ness. I have passed him with ease, and seen 

 many, worse mounted, do the same; and though 

 it is certainly true that a horse ca v ii very seldom, 

 come up with him, this is owing to his cunning, 

 and not to his swiftness. He makes constantly 

 from wood to wood, and forces himself into the 

 thickest parts of them. The trees that are dead 

 or dry, are broken down, as with a cannon shot, 

 and fall behind him and on his side in all direc- 

 tions. Others that are more pliable, greener, or 

 fuller of sap, are bent back by his weight, and 

 the velocity of his motions. And after he has 

 passed, restoring themselves like a green branch 

 to their natural position, they often sweep the 

 incautious pursuer and his horse from the ground, 



NO. iv. y 



