The Rhinoceros in Bhotan. 1 78 



Many a fine florikan (Otis houbara, bustard), partridge,* or 

 peafowl, rises within tempting shot,t deer of different species, 

 pigs, and hares, are seen at every step ; but unless a tiger turns 

 up, to waste powder on anything smaller, at the risk of alarm- 

 ing- the rhinoceros, which are known to be in the vicinity, is 

 strictly forbidden. 



At length, when in the middle of a thicker jungle than 

 usual, a terrific crashing is heard, accompanied with an occa- 

 sional loud expression of anger, half snort, half grunt, and the 

 line of elephants show symptoms of wavering, which quickly 

 resolve into a general pell-mell flight, as two enormous rhino- 

 ceroses are seen to charge down on the line. The howdah ele- 

 phants alone are, by dint of repeated and energetic applications 

 of the goad, kept by their mahouts from turning, but shake to 

 that extent that clinging to the sides of the howdah is as 

 much as one can do to prevent one's-self from being shot clean 

 out. The idea of firing is out of the question until the animal 

 gets steadier, when an ineffectual volley of heavy steel-tipped 

 four-ounce conical projectiles is hurled at the game, but only 

 has the effect of increasing their anger, for the largest of them 

 having by this time overtaken one of the retreating elephants, 

 wounds it severely in the flank, by a thrust with its horn. 

 After breaking the line the rhinoceroses leave their cover, and 

 debouch into the plain, which they cross at a pace which leaves 

 the chance of overtaking them at once out of the question, and 

 soon disappear in a low reedy ravine about half a mile distant. 

 Though apparently an unwieldy animal, the rhinoceros at the 

 top of its speed would require a good horse to beat it in a short 

 distance. We proceeded to follow them up leisurely, to give 

 time for the elephants to be reorganized, for three of them on 

 first taking to flight had bolted some distance before their 

 mahouts could turn them. When at last we reached the ravine, 

 which by its numerous wallowing pits was evidently a favourite 

 resort of the game, we proceeded to beat it with the greatest 

 care, but had not gone far before a cry of alarm from the 

 middle of the line caused a general inquiry as to what it was. 

 On nearing the spot a curious spectacle presented itself, one of 

 the elephants had inadvertently stepped into a quagmire, and 

 immediately began to sink, and in a few minutes no portion of 

 its huge carcase remained visible, excepting the head, trunk, 

 and upper part of the back. We immediately proceeded to 

 hew down the branches from the trees in the neighbourhood 



* Franeolinus vulgaris, St., black partridge, and Perdix gularis, Tern., Khaier 

 partridge. 



f 1. Axis maculattis, Gray, spotted deer ; 2. A. porcinus, hog deer ; 3. Mucer- 

 vus Duvancelii, Cut, the barasingha ; 4. Rusa Aristotelis, the sambur ; 5. Black 

 buck antelope (rare). 



