OCR Text |
Show 730 MR. F. C. SELOUS ON THE [J sprung up again immediately, and come rushing straight forwards, snorting like a steam-engine, and passing perhaps within a few yards of me. In these cases, however, it always appeared to me that the animal had no idea of charging, but was just rushing madly forwards, half stunned by the shock of the heavy bullet. I have seen the same thing happen to some people, both black and white, who described it afterwards as the most terrific charge ; and many a Black- Rhinoceros story has originated, I feel sure, in this way. That a Prehensile-lipped Rhinoceros when in full career, and either wounded or tired, will charge any one or any thing, even to a waggon or span of oxen, that he sees directly in his path and close in front of him, I know well enough; but so will an elephant, buffalo, or lion. What I wish to argue is, not that the Black Rhinoceros is a sweet-tempered animal, but that, at any rate in the great majority of cases, he is by no means the surly, morose, and dangerous beast that some travellers would have one believe. Somehow or other he has got an evil reputation, which, however unjust, will outlive the last of his species in South Africa. Kafirs who have never seen a Rhinoceros will tell you that it is a witch, and that it will follow up a man's spoor, attack him in the night, & c , simply because that is the character tradition has given him. Similarly many Hottentot and white hunters, who have only been hunting since Rhinoceroses became very scarce, and who perhaps have not seen half a dozen of these animals in their lives, will relate endless stories of their unprovoked ferocity ; for it is one of their articles of faith that a Prehensiledipped Rhinoceros is a most ferocious animal, and they therefore invent stories to suit his supposed character. Now there are very few Kafir or Hottentot hunters who will meddle with. a lion, unless they meet him under exceptionally* favourable circumstances ; but, except when on elephant-spoor, or afraid of disturbing those animals, they will seldom pass a Rhinoceros, no matter of what species, without attacking him ; for they know that they have to deal with an animal easy to approach and easy to kill, and one that will give them a great quantity of good meat; yet to hear them talk about the animals vou would imas-ine the Rhinoceros to be the more dangerous of the two. What first gave rise to the very general impression that the Prehensile-lipped Rhiuoceros is such a very dangerous animal I cannot imagine, unless, perhaps, in former years, before the introduction of firearms, there did exist some old and morose individuals of this species that committed a great many atrocities, and which have since been shot, leaving only their evil name to their descendants. However, be that as it may, speaking of the Prehensile-lipped Rhinoceros of the present day, after an experience of eight years, during which time 1 have encountered over one hundred of these animals, I can conscientiously say that I consider their pursuit to be attended with less danger than that of the lion, elephant, or buffalo. In the end of November 1874, I chased a Prehensile-lipped Rhinoceros bull round and round on an open flat (at Thamma Setjie, on the Zambesi road), until he stood still with his mouth |