CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RHINOCEROS. 167 
staring stupidly about them, or walking leisurely across 
the plain. I found them the dullest of all the wild 
beasts I encountered, free from natural vice, and by 
no means dangerous to any hunter who can keep 
his head cool. Their charge is easily avoided, even at 
close quarters, as, though they may come for you at a 
great pace, they are unable to turn quickly. I believe 
most of the stories of vicious charges through caravans 
are greatly exaggerated by the natives and porters, who 
are, according to my experience, terrified by the smallest 
rhino ; and the majority of those graphically described 
vicious charges are, I feel convinced, due to the stupidity, 
and not to the viciousness, of the beast. Caravans a 
mile long, making, as they all do, a great din by singing 
and shouting, often pass close to a sleeping rhino. The 
beast, suddenly awakened by the uproar and having- 
very indifferent visual powers, starts into an aimless 
headlong gallop; this probably carries him through 
the line of porters whom he scatters in different direc¬ 
tions ; but, having accomplished this feat, he shows no 
disposition to return to the attack unless molested. 
More than once I have passed a rhino and seen him 
come charging up-wind after me, out of mere curiosity, 
routing the gun-bearers right and left, and then, on 
getting close, sheering off and galloping out of sight 
as hard as he could go—a clear proof to me of the 
absence of any vicious intent. On the other hand, I 
have conversed with several men of considerable ex¬ 
perience in rhino-shooting, who assure me they have 
seen the same species of rhino charge most viciously’ 
