The Black Rhinoceros 5I 



in length. I was out in search of lions and came on the fresh tracks of 

 two rhinoceros. I really did not wish to kill any more. However, I 

 thought we were as likely to find lions' tracks by following the rhino 

 as going in any other direction. After following them for about three 

 hours we came on them most unexpectedly in a small patch of grass. One 

 was only a few yards off, but I could only see its horn. I fired a snap-shot 

 where I thought its neck ought to be, and finished it with another shot. 

 I had to shoot No. 2 to save one of my men, whose white loin-cloth had 

 caught its eye. 



On my way back to camp I was lucky enough to pick up a leopard, 

 which was squatting in the grass like a rabbit, apparently hoping to escape 

 observation. 



I was once encamped at some water- holes called Gos : everything 

 in a very strong zereba, as there were a good many lions about. About 

 midnight I was awakened by the snorting of a rhino, and the consequent 

 stampede of our seventy camels. How my tent escaped the rush I cannot 

 think. Every camel broke out of the zereba. It was luckily a moonlight 

 night, and they were driven in again, but only to have a second visit from 

 a rhinoceros an hour later. It was the greatest wonder he did not go for 

 the tent ; possibly he was coming down wind, and at night these beasts 

 may not be so aggressive. 



An incident which occurred to my companion, G., will give some idea 

 of the distance a rhinoceros will travel. G. had been away from camp for 

 a week after elephants ; meanwhile I had marched on to the next water 

 with the caravan. While sleeping in the bush with his three shikaris 

 and ponies, he was roused by a rhinoceros, apparently intent on attacking 

 the tethered ponies. He could not see to shoot, but some burning brands 

 appear to have scared the brute away. G. took up his tracks at daylight, 

 and, curiously enough, they brought him past my camp, which was a good 

 six hours' march. After a rest he tracked the beast on into some stony hills 



