THE RHINOCEROS. 187 



thorns within fifty yards of me. I fired firom my saddle, 

 and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon which he 

 rushed forward about one hundred yards in tremendous 

 consternation, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking 

 about him. Presently he made off. I followed, but found 

 it hard to come up with him. The chase led through a 

 large herd of wildebeests, zebras, and springboks, which gazed 

 at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my second 

 barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued 

 riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance, that at 

 length he would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; 

 when suddenly he fell flat on his broadside on the ground, 

 but, recovering his feet resumed his course as if nothing 

 had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the length of 

 the chase, as I wished to keep my horse fresh for the elephants, 

 ' and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, I 

 determined to bring matters to a crisis, so spurring my horse, 

 I dashed ahead, and rode right in his path. Upon this the 

 hideous monster instantly charged me in the most resolute 

 manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and although 

 I quickly wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such 

 a furious pace for several hundred yards, with his horrid 

 homy snout within a few yards of my horse's tail, that my 

 little bushman, who was looking on in great alarm, thought 

 his master's destruction inevitable. It was certainly a very 

 near thing; my horse was extremely afraid and exerted his 

 utmost energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, 

 wheeled about and continued his former course, and I, being 

 perfectly satisfied with the interview which I had abeady 

 enjoyed with him, had no desire to cultivate his acquaint- 

 ance any further, and accordingly made for the camp." 

 The Tame Some species of the rhinoceros, if not all, seem 

 Bhiaoceros. to be tamable. The Indian variety distinguished 

 by the thick folds of heavy garment-like skin, which hang 

 from his shoulders, haimches and thighs, has been trained 



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