A BABY RHINOCEROS 
191 
days, I went out north-west, through thick grass and thorn- 
jungle, to some open ground, some three hours’ ride from 
camp. Here we found a small herd of oryx in very good 
stalking ground. As we neared them, my shikari got very 
excited, and whispered, ‘ Shoot, sahib ! shoot 1’ but I merely 
shook my fist in his face, and crawled nearer the herd. 
Crawling to a small bush, a most painful operation owing 
to the thorns, I sat down and prepared to take a steady 
shot. The oryx had not seen me, so I waited my chance, 
then took a young bull which stood broadside on at 100 yards 
or so. With such an accurate weapon as the Mannlicher, a 
chance like that was ^ a dead cert,’ and with the second 
cartridge in the breech oryx No. 2 lay sprawling on the 
ground. Not having seen me, the remainder of the herd 
ran straight up to my bush, and stood within 15 yards of 
me, when one old bull advanced so close that, fearing 
mischief, I stood " up and waved my hands, when they 
turned away right and left and bolted. After skinning 
the pair of oryx, the horns of one of which measured 
6 inches round the base, although but 26 inches in length, 
we lighted a fire and cooked ourselves some steaks. 
Next day I joined Mr. and Mrs. Stanford at Mirsin, passing 
the well at Gambissa on the way. Stanford came into camp 
shortly after me with a very fine female rhinoceros head 
and skin, and its baby (some five days old), the latter slung 
alive on the camel. The poor little brute, which was about 
3 feet long, uttered the most piercing squeals on being 
released from its uncomfortable position. It was the most 
grotesque creature imaginable, and appeared to be blind, 
but butted at anyone who came near it. He was tied to a 
tree, and was visited by hundreds of Somali men and women 
during the afternoon. Stanford said that he had shot at 
the large rhinoceros, which immediately disappeared in the 
thick bushes. Then arose a series of unearthly squeals, 
which at length they discovered proceeded from as ugly a 
little brute as it has ever been my lot to see. The little 
t/ 
fellow did not attempt to run away, but butted at the men 
