56 TRAVELS IN 
the animal from feeing any other objeds thau 
thofe which are in the direction of its eye. 
The favages, therefore, when not in that di- 
reftion, think themfelves in fafety, even when 
very near the animal, becaufe he cannot then 
obferve them. 
A fingular peculiarity of the two- horned 
rhinoceros iS;, that he ploughs up the ground 
with his horn as he runs along, and at the fame 
time throws his uiine to a great diftance be- 
hind him, making a kind of kicking with his 
feet. Another remarkable cuflom of this ani- 
mal is that of beating to pieces with his feet 
his excrements, which he never leaves whole 
like the elephant. 
Though the fiefh of the rhinoceros does not 
approach that of the hippopotamus, it is far 
fuperior to that of the elephant. 
My favages promifed themfelves a delicious 
feaft; and the idea alone of this treat was 
mere than an equivalent for all the dangers to 
which they had been expofed. What enjoy- 
ment to them was an animal which weighed 
at leaft two or three thoufand pounds ! As 
night was approaching, and as they wifhed to 
have their feaft that evening, they all imme^ 
diately 
