1883.] J. Cockburn — On the recent existence q/ Rhinoceros indicus. 59 



gigantic boulder, the remnant of some rocky ridge with the sides scooped 

 out by atmospheric agency for three-fourths of its circumference leaving 

 a huge central pedestal or stalk on which the drawings have been executed. 

 The drawings are in the usual red pigment which was generally 

 haematite, pieces of which were dug up in caves. This was probably mixed 

 with animal fat and laid on with a fibrous brush, while the outlines were 

 executed with a pointed stick. 



Tliese drawings are as a rule in tolerable preservation probably owing 

 to the fact that they have been protected from the weather by the situa- 

 tion of the cave. 



The first drawing of a rhinoceros observed by me was in a shelter about 

 400 yards south of the camping ground at the village of Roup in Pergunnah 

 Burhur. It was at this village that Dr. Hooker camped on the 3rd of 

 March 1848, (See Him. Jour. Vol. I, p. 60) and its position is plainly 

 marked on the map that accompanies his work. The sketch was about 3" 

 long, and I am not ashamed to confess that I did not recognise the animal 

 at the time, probably unconsciously deeming it incredible that the animal 

 could have occurred here. The following extract bearing on the subject 

 is from my note book. 



" February 9th. — There is a group of three men attacking a boar 

 whose tusk is planted on the tip of his nose like the horn of a rhinoceros. 

 Two of the men who are in advance wear short skirts, but the form of their 

 lance heads is on too small a scale to be defined. Attacking him from the 

 rear is the obliterated figure of a man on a large scale, and the form of 

 lance-head he is using plainly indicates the chip spear." 



The next step in the process of the discovery is detailed below in an 

 extract from my note book. 



''March 14th. — Harni Harna cave near Bidjeygurh. There are nu- 

 merous well executed drawings of Sambar hinds identified by the stag along- 

 side, but the most remarkable drawing is what looks much like a rhinoceros 

 hunt. The drawing is much injured ; there are traces of six men (whose 

 uplifted arms are evidently discharging spears) pursuing an animal, which 

 the evidence of my senses compels me to say resembles a rhinoceros. The 

 horn is perfectly represented, and had not half an inch more of the 

 snout scaled away, I should have been able to identify the animal with 

 certainty." 



The same night in a foot note to the notice of their Roup cave, I 

 remarked. — " Having since found several drawings of boars with the tusko 

 in the right position I consider it improbable that men who represented 

 animals so accurately as these savages, would have drawn a boar's tusko, 

 thus (on the top of the nose). This may be evidence in favour of the animal 

 seen to-day in the Harni Harna cave being a rhinoceros." Knowing I was 



