76 LOSS OF THE HERCULES. 
" These creatures (said the farmer) are more savage, and 
infinitely more to be dreaded than any other animal of the 
deserts. Even the lion, when he perceives a rhinoceros, will 
fly from him in an instant. I had a proof of this (said he) 
about two years ago. As I was traversing my lands in the 
morning, I perceived a lion entering a thicket, about the dis- 
tance of half a mile from the place where I stood. In a few 
minutes after I observed a second, then a third, and a fourth 
came; they seemed to follow one another at their leisure, and 
in less than an hour I counted nine that entered the same 
wood. Never having seen so many of the same species to- 
gether, I was desirous to know the event of their meeting, 
and I concealed myself for the purpose. After waiting for 
rather more than an hour in my lurking-place, without either, 
seeing any of them or hearing any noise from the quarter 
where they lay, I began to despair of having my curiosity in 
the least gratified. At length I perceived a rhinoceros of 
uncommon magnitude approach the wood. He stood motion- 
less for about five minutes when he arrived at a small dis- 
tance from the thicket, then tossed up his nose, and at last 
scented the animals that lay concealed. In an instant I saw 
him dart into the wood, and in the space of about five minutes 
afterward I observed all the lions scamper away in different 
directions, and apparently in the greatest consternation. The 
rhinoceros beat about the wood in pursuit of his enemies for 
a considerable time, but not finding any, he broke covert at 
last and appeared on the plain. He then looked around him, 
enraged at his disappointment, began tearing up the earth, 
and discovered every sign of madness and desperation. I re- 
mained quietly in my retreat until the animal disappeared, and 
then returned to my house." 
The travelers slept that night on sacks, which their host 
had arranged for their accommodation. At breakfast on the 
succeeding morning, their benefactor entertained them with 
some very interesting observations respecting the country 
where he resided. He particularly stated the hardships which 
the colonists endured from the restrictive orders and perse- 
cuting conduct of the government at the Cape. " I have lead 
ore (said he) on my own farm, so near the surface that we can 
scrape it up with our hands, and yet we dare not touch it. If 
we were known to melt and use a single pound of it, we 
should be transported for life to Batavia." 
Before they had finished their meal, their benefactor des 
patched messengers to his neigboring friends, desiring their 
