74 
DESCRIPTION OF 
7, 8 March, 
time. This animal therefore had probably lived formerly within the 
Colony, but having been hunted and wounded by the boors, it had, 
though in vain, sought refuge beyond the boundary. 
On each side of the carcase the Hottentots had made a fire to 
warm themselves ; and round a third fire, not fewer than twenty-four 
Bushmen were assembled, most of whom were actively employed the 
whole night long, in broiling, eating and talking. I watched them 
with astonishment : it seemed that their appetite was insatiable ; for 
no sooner had they broiled and eaten one slice of meat, than they 
turned to the carcase and cut another. I scarcely think that they 
allowed themselves any time for sleep. Some of the natives whom 
I had seen at the dance, were among the number of those who 
assisted at this nocturnal feast. 
The meat of the rhinoceros was excellent, and had much of 
the taste of beef ; and although the flesh of this, which was an old 
animal, was somewhat tough, perhaps on account of being but just 
killed ; yet that of the female, being fatter, proved exceedingly well- 
tasted and wholesome. The tongue would have been pronounced a 
dainty treat, even by an epicure. 
I laid myself down to sleep by one of the fires, but in the night 
awoke with a violent headache and nausea occasioned by the wind 
shifting round to the opposite quarter, and blowing towards me the 
smoke of the green fuel, and the stench of the entrails and filth. 
Towards sunrise the air became very cold ; and having no other 
covering than my watch-coat, I arose at daybreak, little refreshed by 
broken rest, and feeling my whole frame exceedingly chilled. 
^th. Taking with me one of the Hottentots, and some Bushmen 
as guides, I crossed the rocky hills on the west, and descended into a 
dry and extensive plain thinly covered with low bushes. In the 
middle of this, we found the second rhinoceros ; at which Speelman, 
with a party of natives, had arrived an hour earlier, to prevent its 
being cut up before I had seen and examined it. I immediately pro- 
ceeded to make drawings both in front and in profile, and a separate 
sketch of its head on a larger scale, principally from measurement. 
Two of these are given in this volume ; the one in front at page 46, 
