

RHINOCEROS AND BUFFALO. 251 



him, he, knowing that there is but little chance of hitting 

 the small brain of this animal by a shot in the head, lay, 

 expecting one of them to give his shoulder, till he 

 was within a few yards. The hunter then thought 

 that by making a rush to his side he might succeed in 

 escaping ; but the rhinoceros, too quick for that, turned 

 upon him, and though he discharged his gun close to the 

 animal's head he was tossed in the air. " My friend/' adds 

 Dr Livingstone, who gives the account, " was insensible for 

 some time, and on recovering found large wounds on the 

 thigh and body. I saw that on the former part, still open, 

 and five inches long." The white species, though less 

 savage than the black, is not always quite safe, for one, 

 even after it was mortally wounded, attacked Mr Oswell's 

 horse, and thrust the horn through to the saddle, tossing 

 at the same time both horse and rider.* 



The buffalo of the same regions is another animal 

 of remarkable savageness of disposition, making an en- 

 counter with him a formidable affair. The eminent 

 Swedish botanist, Thunberg, was collecting plants in a 

 wood with two companions, when a buffalo bull rushed on 

 the party with a deafening roar. The men just saved their 

 lives by springing into the trees, while two horses were 

 speedily pierced through by the powerful horns, and killed. 



Captain Methuen has given us the following graphic 

 account of an en counter /with this most vicious herbivore, 

 which the Cape colonists consider a more dangerous foe 

 than the lion himself. The gallant captain and his party 



* Livingstone's Travels in Africa, p. 611. 



