H. R. H. THE RRiyCE OF WALEH' SHOOTS. 
689 
NOTES ON NEPAL SHOOTING. 
Ehinoceros {R. unicornis). 
Throughout the shoots I never had the opportunity of measuring any of 
the animals in the flesh* as they were generally shot far away from camp, and 
were disarticulated on the spot and sent into the skinning camp in sections, 
this being the easiest method of transporting these big beasts. I am indebted 
to General Kaiser Shumsher Jung for the following note on the Rhinoceros 
in Nepal. General Kaiser gives the following measurement of a rhino which 
appeared to him as ‘unusually’ big : — 
Height at shoulder 
. . 6'-4" 
Length from nose to root of tail 
. . 10' -7" (measured between 
pegs) 
Tail 
.. 2 '-r 
Neck 
. . 7'-6" 
Girth behind shoulder . . 
.. ll'-l" 
Maximum girth . . 
. . 12'-6" 
Horn . . 
. . 154" 
female shot by Col. O’Connor during the 'Xmas camp, after the Prince 
had left Nepal, taped o'-9" in height at withers, greatest girth 12'. The longest 
rhino horn obtained in Nepal, w^as one of an animal shot by Lord Curzon, then 
Viceroy in 1901, at Morang. The horn measured 21^ inches with a circum- 
ference of 24| inches at the base. The record horn measures 24* and was 
got by Mr. Briscoe in Assam. 
Hodgson gives the following measurement of a new born rhino length 3'-4* 
and height 2'. An animal 8 years old taped 9'-3" in length and 4'- 10" in height, 
the maximum girth being 10'-5". A fulljr developed calf in utero taken from 
an animal shot during the Prince’s shikar ih Nepal measured as follows : — 
Length between pegs . . . . . . . . 4'-l" 
Head and body . . . . '. . , . . . 3'-4" 
Girth . . . . . . . . I . . . 2'-9" 
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 lbs. 
Commenting on the habits of the animal General Kaiser writes, “ I'hough 
it prefers swamps and high grass the great Indian Rhinoceros is also found 
in wooded jungles, up ravines and low hills ; along the numerous rivers it has its 
particular places for the evacuation of excreta. Along the runs to such places 
it walks backw'ards and falls an unsuspecting victim to poachers.” The period 
of gestation is given by Hodgson as 17-18 months though General Kaiser says 
it is believed to be one j’ear, and the cow produces one at birth. According 
to General Kaiser breeding takes place at all times of the year. Writers have 
commented on the longevity of the Rhinoceros, a hundred years being given as 
the age. General Kaiser is of opinion that as regards breeding and longevity 
the ‘ rhino ’ is ‘ first cousin to the elephant.’ ” 
Rhinoceros are still very numerous in the Nepal Terai, especially so in 
Chitawan and along the Rapti river. In January 1907, 28 rhinos were bagged, 
14 males and 14 females, yet the forests in Chitawan were in 1909 so full of 
them that no appreciable diminution in the stock had been made. 
Many legends and beliefs are attached to the Rhinoceros in Nepal. Mr. 
Landon’s eloquent account of the scene at the death of one of these animals 
during the shoot in Nepal is sufiiciently illustrative of the esteem the animal 
is held in by the Nepalese in general. Commenting on the above General Kai- 
ser writes : — 
“ The flesh and blood of the rhino is considered pure and highly acceptable 
to the Manes, to whom the high caste Hindus and most Gurkhas offer libation 
of its blood after entering its disembowelled body. On ordinary Sradh days 
• With the exception of the Rhino calf in utero. 
