94 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
fastened to a log of wood that weighs about 200 or 
300 lbs. This is buried slightly in the earth, 
together with the cord. A quantity of dung is 
thrown carelessly over the freshly turned ground 
to conceal the fact. 
The rhinoceros, like many other animals, has a 
habit of scraping the ground with its fore foot when 
it visits the nightly rendezvous; during this action 
it is almost certain to step upon the concealed trap. 
The foot sinks through, and in the withdrawal the 
noose fixes itself upon the leg, prevented from 
slipping off by the pointed support beneath, which 
remains fast, adhering to the skin. 
The moment that the rhinoceros discovers that 
its leg is noosed, it makes a sudden rush ; this draws 
the noose tight, and, at the same time, the jerk pulls 
the buried log out of the trench. The animal, 
frightened at the mishap, gallops off, with the heavy 
log following behind. This arrangement is excellent, 
as it leaves an unmistakable trace of the retreat, 
which can easily be followed by the trappers on the 
following morning. At the same time, there is not 
the same risk of the rope breaking that would be 
occasioned by a steady pull. The log, which trails 
behind, catches in the innumerable bushes and 
thorns, causing great fatigue, until the rhinoceros, 
thoroughly wearied, is obliged to halt. When 
discovered by the hunters, it is generally entangled 
by some attempt to turn, which has hooked the log 
around a tree ; the fight then commences, as the 
beast has to be killed with spears, which penetrate 
