ANIMALS. 4t){ 



to doubt wlmtever they tell us, yet I cannot lielp i^iviii!^ credit 

 to wliat tliey relate on tliis occiision, particularly wlieii con- 

 firmed by Pliny. The combat between these two, the most 

 formidable animals of the forest, must be very dreadful. Eman- 

 uel, king of Portugal, willing to try their strength, actually op- 

 posed them to each other ; and the elephant was defeated. 



But though the rhinoceros is thus formidable by nature, yet 

 imagination has not failed to exert itself, in adding to its tenors. 

 The scent is said to be most exquisite ; and it is aflirmed that it 

 consorts with the tiger. It is reported also, that when it has 

 overturned a man, or any other animal, it contiiuies to lick the 

 Hesh quite from the bone with its tongue, which is said to be ex- 

 tremely rough. All this, however, is fabulous : the scent, if we 

 may judge from the expansion of the olfactory nerves, is not 

 greater than that of a hog, which we know to be indifTerent ; it 

 keeps company with the tiger, only because they both frequent 

 watery places in the burning climates where they are bred ; and 

 as to its rough tongue, that is so iar from the truth, that no ani- 

 mal of near its size has so soft a one. " I have often felt it my- 

 self," says Ladvocat, in his description of this animal ; '' it is 

 smooth, soft, and small, like that of a dog ; and to the feel it 

 appears as if one passed the hand over velvet ; I have often 

 seen it lick a young man's face who kept it, and both seemed 

 lileased with the action." 



The rhinoceros which was shown at London in ]739, and 

 described by Dr Parsons, had been sent from Bengal. Though 

 it was very young, not being above two years old, yet the charge 

 of its carriage and food from India cost near a thousand pounds. 

 It was fed with rice, sugar, and hay : it was daily supplied with 

 seven pounds of rice, mixed with three of sugar, divided into 

 three portions ; it was given great quantities of hay and grass, 

 which it chiedy preferred ; its drink was water, which it took in 

 great quantities. It was of a gentle disposition, and permitted 

 Itself to be touched and handled by all visitors, never attempting 

 mischief, except when abused, or when hungry ; in siu-li a case 

 there was no method of appeasing its fury but by giving it some- 

 thing to eat. When angry, it would jump up against the walls 

 of its room with great violence, and niaiie many eiforts to es- 

 cape, but seldom attempted to attack its keeper, and was always 

 submissive to his threats. It had a peculiar ciy, somewhat a 



