CHAP. IX 



TRAVELS IN E ASTERN AFRICA 



379 



some of their poison. Among other trees growing 

 here, there was an excellent variety of cedar, growing 

 very straight, with trunks sufficiently thick to have 

 planks sawn therefrom. 



About noon we heard a rhinoceros charging up- 

 wind at us, but it did not reach the caravan. The 

 cover was so thick that we did not see the animal 

 until it was quite upon us. Although this rhinoceros 

 did no damage, the fact that it charged so near us 

 caused Lieutenant von Hohnel to seize his rifle and 

 carry it himself, contrary to his usual custom of en- 

 trusting the weapon to his gun-bearer. Five minutes 

 later we came upon fresh elephant tracks; the ground 

 was strewn with small branches, from which the bark 

 had been stripped, and in the soil were many marks of 

 ponderous feet. This discovery added caution to our 

 movements, and we pressed on as rapidly and noise- 

 lessly as possible. A few moments passed, when 

 suddenly I heard upon my left the snort of another 

 rhinoceros. I looked sharply in the direction from 

 which the sound came, and saw one of these animals 

 coming through the bush. It was not coming directly 

 at me, but appeared to turn off toward the rear of the 

 caravan, so I did not fire, being loath to disturb 

 the elephants which we knew to be near. Thinking 

 the beast had passed harmlessly, I continued on my 

 way. Soon my attention was arrested by loud shouts 

 from the rear, and fierce barks from Felix and his two 

 puppies. I stopped a moment and looked back, but 

 could see nothing, owing to the thick bush. In an 

 instant, however, I heard the snorts of the rhinoceros 

 coming in my direction. Presently there emerged 



