heavily built, it is extremely active, as our long and
fruitless hunt had exemplified. The skin is about
half the thickness of that of the hippopotamus, but
of extreme toughness and closeness of texture; when
dried and polished it resembles horn. Unlike the
Indian species of rhinoceros, the black variety of
Africa is free from folds, and the hide fits smoothly
on the body like that of the buffalo. This two-
homed black species is exceedingly vicious; it is
one of the very few animals that will generally
assume the offensive; it considers all creatures to
be enemies, and, although it is not acute in either
sight or hearing, it possesses so wonderful a power
of scent, that it will detect a stranger at a distance
of five or six hundred yards should the wind be
favourable.
I have observed that a rhinoceros will generally
charge down upon the object that it smells, but
does not see; thus, when the- animal is concealed
either in high grass or thick jungle, should it scent
a man who may be passing unseen to windward, it
will rush down furiously upon the object it has
winded, with three loud whiffs, resembling a jet of
steam from a safety-valve. As it is most difficult
and next to impossible to kill a rhinoceros when
charging, on account of the protection to the brain
afforded by the horns, an unexpected charge in
thick jungle is particularly unpleasant; especially
when on horseback, as there is no" means of escape
but to rush headlong through all obstacles, when
the rider will most likely share the fate that befell
the unfortunate Jali.
The horns of the black Abyssinian species seldom
exceed two feet in length, and are generally much
shorter; they are not fitted upon the bone, like the
horns of all other animals, but are merely rooted
upon the thick skin, of which they appear to be a
continuation. Although the horn of a rhinoceros is
a weapon of immense power, it has no solid foundation,
but, when the animal is killed, it can be separated
from its hold upon the second day after death,
by a slight blow with a cane. The base forms an
exceedingly shallow cup, and much resembles the
heart of an artichoke when the leaves have been
picked off. The teeth are very peculiar, as the molars
have a projecting cutting edge on the exterior
side; thus the jaws when closed form a pair of
shears, as the projecting edges of the upper and
lower rows overlap : this is a favourable arrangement
of nature to enable the animal to clip off twigs and the
branches upon which it feeds, as, although it does not
absolutely refuse grass, the rhinoceros is decidedly a
wood eater. There are particular bushes which form
a great attraction, among these is a dwarf mimosa
with a reddish bark ; this tree grows in thick masses,
which the rhinoceros clips so closely that it frequently
resembles a quickset hedge that has been cut by the
woodman’s shears. These animals are generally seen
in pairs, or the male, female, and calf; the mother
is very affectionate, and exceedingly watchful and