756 THE RHINASTER, OR BORELE. 



ately longer and more slender. It is a nocturnal animal, seldom being seen by day, and 

 issuing at night from its place of concealment for the purpose of feeding. Being a large 

 and powerful beast, and happening to be very fond of several cultivated plants, such 

 as the coffee and the pepper vine, it is apt to burst its way into the plantations, and to 

 $o considerable damage before it retires to its forest home. It seems to be more gentle 

 and tractable than the common Indian Rhinoceros, and has been trained to wear a 

 saddle, and to be guided by a rider. 



The Sumatran species possesses two horns upon its nose, the first being tolerably long 

 and sharp, and the second very thick, short, and pyramidal. The skin-folds are very 

 slight in this animal ; the hide is black in color, rough in texture, and is covered 

 with a thin crop of short bristly hairs. The neck is short and heavy, and the limbs are 

 more clumsy than those of the Indian species. From all accounts it seems to be a very 

 quiet creature, and to be held in no kind of dread, as an adult male has been seen to 

 fly in terror before the attack of one of the native wild dogs. The head of this species 

 is peculiarly long, a characteristic which is observable in the skull as well as in the liv- 

 ing animal. 



OF African Rhinoceroses four species are clearly ascertained, and it is very probable 

 that others may yet be in existence. Two of the known species are black, and the other 

 two white; the animals differing from each other not only in color, but in form, 

 dimensions, habits, and disposition. The commonest of the African species is the 

 BORELE, RHINASTER, or LITTLE BLACK RHINOCEROS, of Southern Africa ; an animal 

 which may be easily distinguished from its relations by the shape of the horns and the 

 upper lip. In the Borele the foremost horn is of considerable length, and bent rather 

 backward, while the second horn is short, conical, and much resembles the weapon of the 

 Indian animal. The head is rather rounded, and the pointed upper lip overlaps the 

 lower, and is capable of considerable extension. 



The Borele is a very fierce and dangerous animal, and is more feared by the natives 

 than even the lion. Although so clumsy in shape and aspect, it is really a quick and 

 active creature, darting about with lightning speed, and testing the powers of a good 

 horse to escape from its charge. Like many other wild animals, it becomes furiously 

 savage when wounded, but it will sometimes attack a passenger without the least 

 provocation. On one occasion an angry Rhinoceros came charging down upon a wagon, 

 and struck his horn into the bottom plank with such force as to send the wagon forward 

 for several paces, although it was sticking in deep sand. He then left the wagon, and 

 directed his attack upon the fire, knocking the burning wood in every direction, and 

 upsetting the pot which had been placed on the fire. He then continued his wild 

 career in spite of the attempts of a native who flung his spear at him, but without the 

 least effect, as the iron point bent against the strong hide. 



The skin of this animal does not fall in heavy folds, like that of the Asiatic species, 

 but is nevertheless extremely thick and hard, and will resist an ordinary leaden bullet, 

 unless it be fired from a small distance. The skin is employed largely in the manufact- 

 ure of whips, or jamboks, and is prepared in a rather curious manner. When the hide 

 is removed from the animal it is cut into strips of suitable breadth and laid on the 

 ground. These strips are then hammered for some time in order to condense the 

 substance of the skin, and when they are dry are carefully rounded with a knife 

 and polished with sandpaper. One of these whips will continue serviceable for 

 several years. The horn of the Borele, from its comparatively small dimen- 

 sions, is not so valuable as that of the other species, but is still employed in 

 the manufacture of drinking-cups and sword-handles. Its value is about half that 

 of ivory. 



The food of the Black Rhinoceros, whether the Borele or the keitloa, is composed of 

 roots, which the animal ploughs out of the ground with its horn, and of the young 

 branches and shoots of the wait-a-bit thorn. It is rather remarkable that the black 

 species is poisoned by one of the Euphorbiaceae, which is eaten with impunity by the 

 two white animals. 



When wounded, the Black Rhinoceros is a truly fearful opponent, and it is generally 



