Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-03-06
iHantiag Adventures In Afrfeal.

entertainment 10 tnoSet fonu hof reading
works of travel and danger:
One fne moonlight night, when snugly
ensconced in my 81 skafm,' - and eontem-
plating the strange but picturesque scene
beforeime, my feyerie wasinterrupted by
the inharmoniousg granting of black rhi-
noceros. He was evidently in, bad hu.
NOR. for as he emerged from the trees in
to the more open ground. i observed him
madly charging any thing and every thing
that he encountered. such rs bushes,
stones. dc. Even the Whitened skulls
and skeletons Of his own species, lying
scattered about on the ground, were at
tackled with inconceivable fury. i was
much amused at his eccentric pastime !:
but owing to the .openness of the ground,
and the quantity of limestone thereabont,
which made objects more distinct he was
mo-. easy of approach. However, after
divesling myself of my shoes and all the
more conspicuous part OF, my dress.
managed to crswl-,,ushing my gun be.
fore me-to within short distance of the
snoring beast. AS she was advancing in
direct line toward me, did not like 10
Ere. because one has little chance OF kill.
ing the rhinoceros when in that position.
Having approached to within q few feet
of me his attention was attracted and
suddenly uttering one of those strange
blowing noises SO peculiar to the beast
when alarmed or enr1ged. he prepared to
treat me in similar manner 20 the stones
and skulls he had just so uncsremonious
ly tossed about. Not moment was to
be lost !; and in seIf-defence 1 fired at his
head. l shall never forget the confusion
of the animal on receiving the contents Of
my gun. Springing nearly perpendicular
into the air, and to the height of many
feet, he came down with tbump that
seemed 10 make the earth tremble then
plunging violently forward (in doing
which he all but trampled on me, he ran
round and round the spot for fully Eve
minutes, enveloping every object in a
cloud of dust. Al last he dashed into the
wood and was hidden from view. Not
finding blood on 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 jarring VIC.
lence. Had my gun missed FIRE when he
charged it is more than probable should
have been impaled.
Again having on a certain night
stalked to within a few PAGES of huge
rhinUceros Ca female as II proved, put
a ball in her shoulder, but it nearly cost
me dear; for guided by the fash Of the
gun. she rushed upon me with such fury
that had only time to throw myself on
my back, in which position remained
motionless. This saved my life for not
observing me, she came to su dden halt
just rs her feet we're about TO crush my
body. She was SO near to me that 1 felt
the saliva from her mouth trickle on my
face f! was in an agony Of suspense
though happily only for a moment for,
having impatiently shifted the air, she
wheeled about aud made off at her ut>
most speed. then saw for the frsttime
that her calf was in company and at once
recognized the pair as old ocquaintances.
and as especially vicious animals.
On another occasion. when the night
was very dark, l crept to within a short
distance Of seven elephants, and was en-
deayoring 70 pick out tie largest when 1
WAS startled by peculiar rumbling noise
close behind me. Springing TO my feet,
[ perceived. to my surprise and alarm, q
semi-circle of female ele ephants. with their
calves, bearing down upon me. Ny po.
sition was critical. being between two
6res. so to say, and had no olher choice
than either to plunge into the pool. which
could only be swimming in the face of tbs
male elephants. or to break through the
ranks of the females. adopted the lat.
ter alternative, but 6rst fred at the near
est of the seven bulls and then, and
without moments delay, rushed Oh
the more open rank Of the female phal-
anx. uttering at the time loud shouts
My cries caused momentary panic
among the animals Of which I took ad-
vantage and slipped out between them,
dischsrgiug my second barrel into the
shoulder Of the nearest as l passed her.
No sooner. however. had 1 effected my
escape. than the whole herd made sim.
uItsneous rush at me. aud trumpeCed SO
shTilly as to~csuse every man at the camp,
as learned sfterward. TO start out Of his
sleep. Fortunately, the darkness preven.
ted the beasts from following me spd
the jungle being close by, was soon 10
safety. In my precipitste flight. hower-
er, severely lacerated my feet, Tor when
stalking the elephants, had taken of my
shoes. that might the better steal upon
them.
When. after while. 1 yeutured out Of
my place of concealmens, found every
thing quiet; only one solitary elephant
remained. Having approaehed within q
short distance, could distinctly see him
laving water on 10 his sides with his trunk.
l Immediately suspected he belonged % 8
troop of seven bulls. and wss the one chs,
l had fred at. Seating myself right
across his path, I quietly watched bis
proceedings. After a.time I saw himSas
l thought moving of in an opposite di'
.o.a;on. LnA I =. ..:.l.Lo. u. l. A.