Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-08-22
Chr gepnblie
I'D VENTURE WITH Il RHI
NOC'EROS.

A writer In an English magazine gives a
singular account ofthe manner in which
he tanned rhinoceros. He claims that
the widest of animals, in their wild state,
may be tanned by man, that they, will vol
untarially seek him and his aid, aud that
there may be varieties of wild animals as
yet not described by any natural historian
of any age or country.
FINDING TIE RHIyocEEos.
The writer says:
reached what are called the ''Blsck
Lakes of Bechuan late one day, Just as
the sun was redly descending, leaving the
skies in lurid glare and bloodiike as
pect. In Africa there Ii no cleaning OF
twilight. From daylight to night is but a
step. 1t was time 1 selected my resting
place for the night, and foryarious reasons
| made choice of a tree on the margin OF
the upper or eastern lake. Upon the sur
face of the black water | saw young and
fat hippcpOtamus. | was thinking more
OF saurians than such rs he, for I knew
how siealthy they glide up 4 bank to in
troduce themselves to a stranger and was
prepared to repay their attentions by Civ
inc steel bolt to any that came--lead is
too soft for their hides.
While giving cat like glance all around
me, heard splash in the inkliIe liquid
which passes for water in these lakes, and
looking around, perceived the largest rhi-
nOceros | had ever seen, either in India.
Ceylon, Sumatra, Borneo, Africa or any
where else, amusing himself by poking
the fat hippOpOtamus with his broad snOut
in the ribs, or rather the armor plate of fat
which defended them, making him spin
round on his own axis in the water. or af-
ter the fashion of grindstone. The poor
hippo squeaked at every poke; he did
not approve of such liberties. but the rhi-
noceroS did, aud might in such cases is
right. Disguised with the freedom to
which he was subjected, the bal of fat
elected all the air frem his lungs and dIved
leaving the leyiathan master OF the situa-
ton, but no longer master of him.
The giant then saw me and appeared
struck with wonder. He had never seen
such creature before. What WAS it?
Where did it come from? was certain he
had never seen man; for ifhe had he would
either have turned from me or rushed
upon lie 10 gore me with a huge horn that
stood upon his face. Man is g destroyer.
Such noble beast would be a prize; if
ever man had seen him, lie would have
left one Of two impressions upon his memo
ry-intense fear or deep hatred: but this
animal only evinced surprise
had quite made up my mind what to
do if he meant fighting, but would not
provoke HIM Peace or war, old fellow"
said |, 10 break the silence. He stood very
square on his thick legs, Ike massive
billiard table firm, broad, siurdy-not
moving an inch. | saw the white of his
eyes, his great tusks and broad teeth. fit to
tear up and rend q tree, his white horn
ready to rip up hundred elephants if
they stood before him. The moon was
well up for the nights business or pleasure,
and / could see ditinctly any movement
of his frame or face. gave an occasional
look round for saurians, for they were sly
enemies more to be feared than the open
foe before me, ifindeed he were foe, of
which / could not be certain.
There was dull splash--my new ac-
quaintance had moved one Of the solid pill
lars which he called his legs, / presumed
slowly and deliberately he moved the
other; then again he paused, gazing earnest
" as before. | did not understand his
looks or meaning. Did he intend to bowl
me over as he did the hippopotsmus?
Better not, old fellow" | said Laughing,
IF you try, | will put steel bolt in your
head. BE civil, if regard your health.
The words were no sooner said than he
made very peculiar noise, and took an
other step; l did not think it exactly
step in the right direction, for il was to-
wards nae: but the sounds which preceded
it were not indicative ofsavageness. They
were harsh, but decidedly not angry. |
would not determine rsshly-he might not
intend mischief-I would not harm the no
bic beast if l could avoid it.
l went to my tree, tied my chaplet of
frurimus leaves around It's trunk 10 prevent
snakes from ascending, struck light and
kindled one of my torches, and was up to
the lowest branch before the rhinoceros
had stepped ashore. | saw it would be
seven feet above him if he stood beneath
it; for the rhinOceros raises itself TO hook
its horns ON ali branches it can reach, 10
break them down for food, in the seasons
when other food is scarce. / could have
joke with him now and watch his move.
ments. On he came, trudging and stump
ing, slowly, but earnestly, uttering sounds
which read as | would the wbines of a
dog that wanted to reach its master: not
that they resembled The canine winnings,
but the mode in winch they escaped him
Impressed me with that belief so strongly
that no consideration could have induced
me to hurt the animal, and laid my roer
on forked branch, as a weapon FOR which
l had no present use.
If billiard table could walk, 1t must be
in the style of that rhinoceros at that time.
| thought he must be lame and stiff.
Now, l am going TO make an ascent to
hunt for snakes, and if find any, TO whip
them with this .fruriHl,ts or OrHlus.
CLOSER AcQUAISTASCE.
searched the tree well, but found moth
ing obnoxious. | was rather intent upon
my task and was silent, which made my
new friend uneasy. Any nonsensesI talk
ed, strangely enough, seemed to please the
huge beast; but il l ceased for a moment
he grunted md impatiently stamped with
one of his forefeet till the earth vibrated
and his face turned upwards revealed the
whole front of his horn. Presently | got
down. As | descended my queer friend:
| satisfaction was great.
! / went down to offer him some biscuit
the attention seemed to please him might
ly-not so much, L thought, for the sake o
the bread as having me near him. AS
offered the frangipani he rubbed his nos,
against my hands many times, till / put i
inside his thick lips, when he crushed it il
a style that would have touched the hear
of a toothIess sailor. / ate more slowly
he got three shares out of four. | wen
up for more. and for coffee, for was lhirs
ty; but his Impotence drew me down yer,
soon. / gave him the best half of three
biscuits small supply for such a garri
son as his interior. But my stock ws
getting low, and he really seemed to be in
different TO them; he might have though
them dry and ;nsipid; but all his desir
seemed to be to haze me near him and l.
hear my voice talking nonsense. Findin
that to say something, however absurd
was needful to his peace, l thought G
''killing two birds with one stone an
that, as had given him folly enough, Ii
should have something better. / took
book from my knspsack and read aloud
giving any dialogue in a conversations
tone, and lean assure Mr.. Charles Dick
ana or urbo,,, ~ NAV oOprarr that tsDicE