THE AFRICAN RHINOCEROS. 32 9 



beaten, regularly outpaced. Taher Sheriff explained that at all times the Rhinoceros was the most 

 difficult animal to sabre, on account of his extraordinary swiftness, and, although he had killed many 

 with the sword, it was always after a long and fatiguing hunt, at the close of which the animal, 

 becoming tired, generally turned to bay, in which case one hunter occupied his attention, while another 

 galloped up behind and severed the hamstring. The Rhinoceros, unlike the Elephant, can go very 

 well upon three legs, which enhances the danger, as one cut will not utterly disable him." 



Not unfrequently, however, it is the hunter who has to fly away before the Rhinoceros, as Sir S. 

 Baker found out to his cost in the Upper Nile. 



Gordon Gumming, in his " Hunter's Life in South Africa," gives the following details of the 

 Rhinoceros : " Of the Rhinoceros there are four varieties in South Africa, distinguished by the 

 Bechuanas by the names of the Borele, or Black Rhinoceros ; the Keitloa, or Two-horned Black 

 Rhinoceros ; the Muchocho, or common White Rhinoceros ; and the Robaoba, or Long-horned White 

 Rhinoceros. Both varieties of the Black Rhinoceros are extremely fierce and dangerous, and rush 

 headlong and unprovoked at any object which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, 

 and their flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. Their food consists almost entirely 

 of the thorny branches of the waitabit thorns. Their horns are much shorter than those of the other 

 varieties, seldom exceeding eighteen inches in length. They are finely polished with constant rubbing 

 against the trees. The skull is remarkably formed, its most striking feature being the tremendously 

 thick ossification in which it ends above the nostrils. It is on this mass that the horn is supported. 

 The horns are not connected with the skull, being attached merely by the skin, and they may thus be 

 separated from the head by means of a sharp knife. They are hard and solid throughout, and are a 

 fine material for various articles, such as drinking-cups, mallets for rifles, handles for turners' tools, 

 <fcc., &c. The horn is capable of taking a very high polish. The eyes of the Rhinoceros are small and 

 sparkling, and do not readily observe the hunter, provided he keep to leeward of them. The skin is 

 extremely thick, and only to be penetrated by bullets hardened with solder. During the day the 

 Rhinoceros will be found lying asleep, or standing indolently in some retired part of the forest, or 

 under the base of the mountains, sheltered from the power of the sun by some friendly grove of 

 umbrella-topped mimosas. In the evening they commence their nightly rambles, and wander over 

 great extent of country. They usually visit the fountains between the hours of nine and twelve 

 o'clock at night, and it is on these occasions that they may be most successfully hunted and with the 

 least danger. The Black Rhinoceros is subject to paroxysms of unprovoked fury, often ploughing up 

 the ground for several yards with its horn, and assaulting large bushes in the most violent manner. 

 On these bushes they work for hours with their horns, at the same time snorting and blowing loudly, 

 nor do they leave them in general until they have broken them in pieces. All the four varieties 

 delight to roll and wallow in the nmd, with which their rugged hides are generally encrusted, Both 

 varieties of the Black Rhinoceros are much smaller and more active than the white, and are so swift 

 that a Horse with a rider on his back can rarely overtake them. The two varieties of the White 

 Rhinoceros are so similar in habits that the description of one will serve for both ; the principal 

 difference consisting in the length and set of the anterior horn : that of the Muchocho averaging from 

 two to three feet in length, and pointing backwards ; while the horn of the Robaoba often exceeds 

 four feet in length, and inclines forward from the nose at an angle of 45. The posterior horn of either 

 species seldom exceeds six or seven inches in length. The Robaoba is the rarer of the two, and it is 

 found very far in the interior, chiefly to the eastward of the Limpopo. Its horns are very valuable 

 for loading-rods, supplying a substance at once suitable for a sporting implement and excellent for the 

 purpose. Both these varieties of Rhinoceros attain an enormous size. They feed solely on grass, 

 cariy much fat, and their flesh is excellent, being preferable to beef. They are of a much milder 

 and more inoffensive disposition than the Black Rhinoceros, rarely charging their pursuer. Their 

 speed is very inferior to that of the other varieties, and a person well mounted can overtake and shoot 

 them. The head of these is a foot longer than that of the Borele. They generally carry their heads 

 low ; whereas the Borele, when disturbed, carries his very high. Unlike the Elephants, they never 

 associate in herds, but are met with singly or in pairs. In districts where they are abundant from 

 three to six may be found in company ; and I once saw upwards of a dozen congregated together on 

 some young grass ; but such an occurrence is rare." 

 91 



