An African Incident 
Close Quarters with a. Rhinoceros 
By DR. AD. DAVID 
I T was in March, 1906, that I went hunting 
with seven blacks on the plains near the 
Mroakini Hills in English East Africa. 
Three bearers carried water and provisions, the 
others being supplied with cameras, knives and 
various other utensils. Each man had as little as 
possible to carry, so as to eventually be able to 
take in a stock of game. 
It must have been about 10 o’clock in the 
morning that I espied a rhinoceros with her 
young one at about 700 yards distance. The 
mother and her offspring went quietly grazing 
up a hill which was separated by a hollow from 
another hill. We slipped along this hollow, and 
when we found ourselves on the same direct line 
with the rhinoceros, at a short distance, I laid 
the long distance camera over a nigger’s shoul¬ 
der and went up the hill in order to group 
mother and calf into one picture, leaving the 
rest of the bearers waiting below. The wind 
was favorable; the animals could not perceive 
us. 
When we had reached the somewhat flat sum¬ 
mit I saw the rhinoceros standing broadside be¬ 
fore us, about 150 yards away. With a little 
gentle persuasion I succeeded in getting my com¬ 
panion to advance about thirty yards more and 
take up a position with me on an old hill of 
white ants where we made the picture. Since 
the beast constantly moved the photo did not 
turn out so well as I should have liked, although 
the position seemed to be right through the sight 
glass. 
As everything was so favorable I wanted to 
approach the rhinoceros still nearer and take 
a plate with an ordinary 9 by 12 camera. We 
returned, therefore, to the bearers, where we 
changed the “distance” camera for the other one. 
This time I had a man with me who seemed 
pluckier than the first, who answered to the 
proud name of the Lion. My present companion, 
however, was named Throat-cutter. It was clear 
he was still more dangerous. 
On again arriving at the white ants’ hill I 
looked all around, but could not see either of 
the animals any longer. Cautiously we pro-i 
ceeded, but our efforts to locate the animals were 
all in vain. On reaching the spot where they 
were first seen the surroundings were searched 
with field glasses, but with no success. We then 
went back, making direct for the white ants’ 
hill, but we had hardly begun to retrace our 
steps, when suddenly on our right, about thirty 
yards away, we saw the rhinoceros lying on the 
ground. The two horns, half of the head, and 
the upper part of the body were concealed from 
the eye by the heather and a dip in the hill. To 
all appearances the animal had escaped our gaze 
immediately after we had taken its photo, by 
lying down. We had gone past it and now stood 
in an unfavorable wind. The consequende was: 
that the rhinoceros rose in an instant, turned 
suddenly round in order to rush on us with its 
full strength. 
My companion took to his heels while I stood 
like one fascinated and rooted to the spot. What; 
happened was the work of a second. I had; 
dropped instinctively on one knee, laid the 
camera near me and held on to the gun. At 
about eight yards I pulled the trigger, fired and 
missed. I had aimed at the eye of the animal 
and the bullet went too high. 
By this time the monster was snorting and 
stamping in front of me. I had sprung up imme¬ 
diately. What followed I did without any con¬ 
sideration. My acts were perhaps the outcome 
of former thoughts of what I should do were 1 
ever to find myself in such a situation. Just a: 
the rhinoceros was directly before me, and, a; 
quick as lightning, had lowered its shaggy heac 
to run its narrow yard-long horn through m; 
body with all its force, I succeeded in avoid 
ing the thrust by making a desperate jump for 
ward and to the right. Contrary to my expecta 
tions, however, the rhinoceros was able to pul 
itself up immediately and now charged at me ; 
second time, jerking its head up and down viol 
lently. Again I succeeded in dodging, but 
knew that if that beast should recognize m; 
tactics and charge again I was lost. What ther 
happened is no longer clear in my mind. I fel 
a sharp blow on my arm, another in the leg an( 
EAST AFRICAN PELICANS AND ZEBRAS. 
