A CHAT ABOUT INDIAN WILD BEASTS. 175 
had a very fair front horn measuring fully nine inches, whilst 
that behind was little more than an inch or two. 
In 1868 Captain Hood, Superintendent of Keddahs, and 
Mr. H. W. Wiches captured a new variety in Chittagong, and it 
has been named the Hairy-eared Rhinoceros (R. lasiotis). It has 
long hairy fringe to the ears, and long reddish hair on the body, 
the skin fine and granulated, the tail shorter. The only known 
Specimen is, or was a short time ago, in our “ Zoo,”’ having been 
purchased for £1250.* 
All Rhinoceroses, if caught young, are easily tamed. A dhoobey 
(washerman) had one for some time in Gowhatty, and it did not 
mind carrying burdens or letting people ride it. It is rather 
profitable to catch the little ones. If a cow with acalf is killed, 
the little one remains near the carcass. All Assamese villages 
have nets for catching various beasts, from Deer to Buffaloes, and 
it is easy to surround and capture the little one. One I captured 
was more savage than a Tiger ; it was tethered by all four legs, 
and with a rope over its neck. It rushed open-mouthed at any- 
one it saw the first day, but soon quieted down. My two 
shikaries, Sookur (mahout) and Seetaram, his uncle, knew how to 
manage these animals. After grilling in the sun many hours 
Sookur poured a little milk over its head, and as it trickled down 
the little one curled up its lips; a little of the nourishment got 
into its mouth, which it greatly appreciated, and it readily took 
all that was given it. ‘The next morning plantains mashed in 
milk were given to it. After three days it would follow Sookur 
about anywhere, and in a week or ten days it was quite tame. I 
had two of them, and sold them to Jamrach’s agent, an Afghan, 
for 1200 rupees, delivered in Gowhatty ; but I believe I ought to 
have got double the amount. The milk of a cow Rhinoceros is 
thin and sweet, very like a woman’s in the earlier stages of nursing. 
One I shot was milked by my seik overseer, and he got more than 
two quarts from it. I tasted it just to see what it was like. 
All Rhinoceroses live on herbage, long grass, null, wild carda- 
mom, and branches of trees. The upper lip protrudes beyond 
the lower, and is very pliable. They delight to lhe in mud-holes, 
-and I have even shot them lying in a clear rippling stream. I 
have shot them right and left with one ball each, on an occasion ; 
but frequently I have killed them with but one balleach. Though 
* Vide ante, p. 142.—ED. 
