xv UNSUCCESSFUL RHINO HUNTS 171 



At length, however, it got fainter and fainter, and 

 finally ceased altogether, so that we had to abandon 

 the search ; the ground round about was rocky, and 

 there was no possibility of telling which way our 

 quarry had gone. I was exceedingly sorry for this, 

 as I did not like to leave him wounded ; but there 

 was no help for it, so we struck out for home and 

 arrived at Tsavo in the afternoon very tired, hungry 

 and disappointed. 



Rhinos are extraordinary animals, and not in 

 any way to be depended upon. One day they 

 will sheer off on meeting a human being and make 

 no attempt to attack ; the next day, for no apparent 

 reason, they may execute a most determined charge. 

 I was told for a fact by an official who had been 

 long in the country that on one occasion while a gang 

 of twenty-one slaves, chained neck to neck as was 

 the custom, was being smuggled down to the coast 

 and was proceeding in Indian file along a narrow 

 path, a rhinoceros suddenly charged out at right 

 angles to them, impaled the centre man on its 

 horns and broke the necks of the remainder of the 

 party by the suddenness of his rush. These huge 

 beasts have a very keen sense of smell, but equally 

 indifferent eyesight, and it is said that if a hunter 

 will only stand perfectly still on meeting a rhino, 

 it will pass him by without attempting to molest 

 him. I feel bound to add, however, that I have 



