American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-21
HUNTING ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.

entertainment to those fond of reading
works of travel and danger
i Que fine moonlight night. when snug.
ly ensconed in my "skarm" and con.
tempiating the strange but picturesque
Iscene before me, my reverie was inter-
ruped by the inharmonious grunling of
a black ihinoceros. Ho was evidently
10 bad humor, for as he emerged from
the trees into the more open ground,
observed him madIy charging anything
and everything that he encountered,
such as bushes, stones, &c. Even the
whtened skulls aud skeletons of his
own species, lying scattered about on
the ground, were attacked with incon-
ceivable fury. | was much amused at
his excentric pas,ime but owing to the
openncss of the ground and the quaint.
ty OF the limestone thereabout, which
made objects moro distinct, he was not
easy Of approach. However after d.
vesting myself Of my shoes and the
more conspicuous part ofmy dress, Imam
aged to crawl pushing my gun before
me--to within short distance of the
snoi,ing beast. As he was advancing
ina direct line toward me, did not like
10 hre because one has little chance of
killing the rhinoceros when in that po-
sition. Having approached to within
fe" feet OF me his attention was attract.
ed and suddenly uttering one Of those
strange 'blowing discs so peculiar to
the beast when alarmed and nlaged,
he prepared to treat me in similar
manner TO the stones and skulls he had
Just so unceremoniously tossed about
Not moment was to be lost and in
self defence fred at his head. shall
never forget The confusion Of The ami
NAL on receiving the contents ofmy gun.
Springing nearly perpendicular into the
air, and to the height of severa! feet, he
came down with thump that seemed
to make the earth tremble then plubg.
ing violently forward lin doing which he
all but trampled on me, he ran round
and round the spot for fully FIVE sein
utes. enveloping every object in cloud
of dust. AT last he dashed into the
wood and was hidden from view. Not
finding blood in his tracks, had no rea.
son to suppose he was much hurt. My
notion is that the bullet struck his horn,
partially stunning him with its jarrinp
violence. Had my gun missed fire
|
able should have been impaled.
Again: Having on certain nigh;
stalked to withina few PAGES of huge
rhinoceros IA female as it proved, put
a ball i'll her shoulder but il nearly cost
me dear for guided by the flash Of the
gun, she rushed upon me with such fu'
ry that | had only time to throw myself
on my back, in which position remain
ed motlonless. This saved my life for
not observing me she came to sudden
halt Just as her feet were about to crush
my body. She was so near to me that
| felt the saliva from her mouth trickle
on my face | was in an agony of sus.
pense though happily for moment for
having impatient!y sntied the air, she
wheeled about and made off at her ut.
most speed. | then saw for the first
time that her calf was in company and
at once recognized The pair as old &C.
quain'anccs, and as especially vicious
animals.
On another occasion, when the night
was very dark, | crept to within short
distance Of seven elephants, and was en-,
deavoring to pick out the largest when
| was startled by peculiar rumblng
noise close behind me. Springing to
my feet, perceived to my surprise aud
alarm, semi circle of ffemale elephants,
with their calves, bearing down upon
me. My position was critical. being be,
tween two fires so to say, aud bad no
other choice than either to plunge into
the pool, whchcould only be swimming
III the face of the male elephants, or to
| fta ,, r
adopted the latter alternative, hut first
fired at the nearest of the seven bulls
and then without a momenl's delay. |
rushed on the more open rank of the
female phalanx, uttcring at the time
loud shouts. My cries caused momen,
! tary panic among the animals of which
| took advantage and slipped out be,
tween them, discharging my second
barrel into the shoulder Of tho nearest
as passed her. No sooner howeve,
: had effected my escape, than tho whole
herd made a simultaneous rush at me
and trumpe,ed SO sbrilly as 10 cause ey.
cry man at the camp as | learned after
J ward, TO start out Of his sleep. Fortu
nateIy the darkness prevented the beast.
Q from following me aud the jungle be
: ing close by, was soon IN safety. 1r
, my precipitate flight, however, severe
y " lacerated my feet, for when stalking
J, the elephants,'l had taken off my shoe,
!. that ] might the better steal upon them
When after while, ven,ured out o.
my place Of concealment, | found every
Q thing quiet only one solitary elephan
, remained. Having approached wilhr
i short distance, could distinctly see
him laying water on his sides with hi
/ trunk. | Immediately suspected he he
Q longed to the troop of seven bulls, ant
o was tho one bad fred al. Seatipt