THE WHITE RHINOCEROS. 621 



more easily approached and killed on foot. On this occasion, however, it seemed as if fate 

 had interfered. 



' ' Turning to my after-rider, I called out : ' By heaven ! that fellow has got a fine horn ! 

 I will have a shot at him.' AVith that, I clapped spurs to' my horse, who soon brought me 

 alongside the huge beast, and the next instant I -lodged a ball in his body, but, as it turned 

 out, not with deadly effect. On receiving my shot, the Rhinoceros, to my great surprise, instead 

 of seeking safety in flight, as is the habit of this generally inoffensive animal, suddenly stopped 

 short, then turned sharply round, and having eyed me most curiously for a second or two, 

 walked slowly towards me. I never dreamt of danger. Nevertheless, I instinctively turned 

 my horse's head away: but, strange to say, this creature, ususally so docile and gentle — 

 which the slightest touch of the reins would be sufficient to guide — now absolutely refused 

 to give me his head. When at last he did so, it was too late ; for, notwithstanding the 

 Rhinoceros had only been walking, the distance between us was so inconsiderable, that by this 

 time I clearly saw contact was unavoidable. Indeed, in another moment I observed the brute 

 bend low his head, and, with a thrust upwards, strike his horn into the ribs of the horse with 

 such force as to penetrate to the very saddle on the opposite side, where I felt its sharp point 

 against my leg. 



"The violence of the blow was so tremendous as to cause the horse to make a complete 

 somersault in the air, coming heavily down on its back. With regard to myself, I was, as a 

 matter of course, violently precipitated to the ground. Whilst thus prostrated, I actually saw 

 the horn of the infuriated beast alongside of me ; but, seemingly satisfied with Ms revenge, 

 without attempting to do farther mischief, he started off at a canter from the scene of action. 

 My after-rider having by this time come up, I rushed upon him, and almost pulling him off 

 his horse, leapt into the saddle ; and, without a hat, and my face streaming with blood, was 

 quickly in pursuit of the retreating beast, which I soon had the satisfaction to see stretched 

 lifeless at my feet." 



The flesh of the Muchuco, or Monoohoo, as the White Rhinoceros is called by the 

 natives, is apt to be rather tough, but is of good flavor. The best portions are those which are 

 cut from the upper part of the shoulder and from the ribs, where the fat and the lean parts are 

 regularly striped to the depth of two inches. If a large portion of the meat is to be cooked at 

 one time, the flesh is generally baked in the cavity of a forsaken ant-hill, which is converted 

 into an extempore oven for the occasion ; but if a single hunter should need only to assuage 

 his own hunger, he cuts a series of slices from the ribs, and dresses them at his fire. The 

 hide of the Monoohoo is enormously thick, and gives a novice no little trouble to get it from 

 the body, as it is as hard as a board, and nearly as stiff. An adept, however, will skin the 

 animal as quickly and easily as if it were a sheep. 



The Kobaoba, or Long-horned White Rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros osioellii) is much rarer than 

 either of the preceding species, and is found far in the interior, mostly to the east of the 

 Limpopo River. The peculiar manner in which this species carries its horns, makes it a very 

 conspicuous animal. In all the other species, the horns are curved, and incline rather back- 

 ward ; but in the Kobaoba, the foremost horn is nearly straight, and projects forward, so that 

 when the animal is running, the tip of the horn nearly touches the ground. Indeed, the 

 extremity of an adult Kobaoba' s horn is generally rubbed down on one side, owing to the 

 frequency with which it has come in contact with the earth. The head of this and the preced- 

 ing species is always carried very low, forming a singular contrast to the saucy and inde- 

 pendent manner in which the borele carries his head. 



The long horn of the Kobaoba sometimes exceeds four feet in length, and as it is almost 

 straight, is most valuable for many purposes. The best, toughest, and straightest ramrods are 

 manufactured from this horn, and I have seen one of these ramrods that was almost four feet 

 long, even after being shaped and trimmed, so that the horn from which it was cut must have 

 been still longer. The mother Kobaoba employs this horn for a very curious purpose, as was 

 seen by Cumming. Whenever the mother and her young are abroad, the calf always takes 

 the lead, and in this instance she guided her little one by pressing it against the calf's side. 



