KARAGWE. 247 



denly springing back nearly upon me and pointing 

 at an ant-hill. I went forward, looked over it, and 

 was surprised by the sight of a rhinoceros lying 

 asleep on the other side, so near that I could have 

 touched it. Unfortunately I had not a rifle with 

 me, and before one could be produced the animal 

 awoke and went off. 



We saw two more near the end of the inarch 

 and went after them. I was just kneeling down 

 to get a good aim, when one of my men, who 

 wore a white shirt, rushed forward, and the 

 animal saw him and charged us both. We both 

 fired and the discharge turned him. After we 

 had fusiladed him, and he had been charging us 

 with an activity which I should never have 

 suspected, during perhaps 20 minutes, he had 

 had sufficient exercise and went off to some 

 quieter place. 



This day's experience showed me conclusively 

 that as a rule these animals do not charge out of 

 sheer wickedness. In this country, however, the 

 natives appear sometimes to collect in large bands 

 and spear them, and this may account for their 

 timidity. I am sure that they cannot see clearly 

 for more than 50 yards or so. 



I also saw them on four or Hys other days in 

 Karagwe and Buhimba. The reason of their 

 abundance is probably connected with a kind of 

 thorn bush, of which there is a great variety all 

 over the district. 



