Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-08-09
ADVENTURE WITH A RHI.
NOCEEsOS.

A writer in an English magazine gives
singular account of the manner in which
he tanned "a .rhipoceros !, He claims tina
the widest of animals, in their wild state
may be tanned by man, that they will vol
untarilys seek him and his add, and tina
theresmay be- varieties ofswild animals al
yet not described by any natural historian
of any age or country.
FINDING THE RHINoCERos. ~
The writer says:
I reached what are called the Black
Lakes" of Bechuan late one day, just as
the sun was redly descending, leaving the
skies in a lurid glare and a bloodlike as
pect In Africa there is no cleaning OF
step. It was time / selected my resting
place for the night, and for various reasons
/ made choice of tree on the margin Of
the upper or eastern lake Upon the sur
face of the black waterI saw young anG
fat hippopotamus. | was thinking more
of saurians" than such as he, for [ knew
how .stealthy they glide up a. bank TO IN
troduce themselves to a stranger, and was
prepared to repay their attentions by Civ
ing a steel bolt, TO any that scameT7lead il
too soft for their hides.
While giving catElike glance all arount
me, | heard splash in the ink like liquit
which passes for water in these lakes, and
looking around, perceived the largest rhi
noceros L had ever seen, either in India
Ceylon, Sumatra, Bornco, Africa or any
where else, amusing himself by pOking
the fat hippopotamus with his broad snout
in the ribs, or rather the armOr plato of fat
which defended them, making him spin
round on his own axis in the water, or af-
ter the fashion of a grindstone. The poor
hippo squeaked at every poke he did
not approve of such liberties, but the rhi-
noceros did; and might in such cases is
fright Disguised with the freedom to
which he was subjected, the ball )of fat
elected all the air from his lungs and dived,
leaving the leviathan 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 q creature before. What was it.?
Where did it come from? was certain he
had never seen man; for if he had he would
either have turned from me or rushed
upon me to gore me with a !. huge
horn that: stood upon his face. 4 Man is a
destroyer. Such noble beast would be a
prize; if ever man had seen him, he would
have left one or two impressions upon his
memory-intense fear or deep hatred but
this animal only evinced surprise.
L had quite made up my mind what to
do II he meant fighting, but would not
provoke him. Peace or war, old fellow"
said [, to break the silence. He stood very
square on his thick legs, like massive
billiard table-flrm, broad, sturdy-nOt
moving an inch. | saw the white of his
eyes, his great tusks and broad teeth, fit.to
tear up and rend a tree, his white horns
nm httrd OLE ,Ion fo
they stood before him. The moon was
well up for the nights business or pleasure,
and could see distinctly any movement
of his frame or face. / gave an occasional
look round for saurlans, for they were sly
enemies, more to be feared than the open
foe before me, if indeed he were foe, OF
which l could not be certain. q aaa
There was dull splash--my new ac-
qalntal1ce had moved one of the solid pill
lars which he called his legs, l presumed
slowly and deliberately he moved the 9th
er; then again he paused, gazing earnestly
as before. | did not understand his looks
or meaning. Did he kintend to bowl me
over as he did the hippopotamus "Bet
ter not, old fellow" said, laughing, I" il
you try, will put steel bolt in your
head. Be civil, if you regard your health.
The words were no sooner said than he
made very peculiar noise, and took an
other step; did not think it exactly a
step in the right direction, for it was to-
wards me: butAthe sounds which preceded
it were not indicative of ,savageness They
were harsh, ysbut decidedly not angry.
would net determine rashly-he might moi
intend mischiefr--I would not harm the no
BILE beast if L could avoid it. Z bge as5ias ot
went to my tree, tied my chaplet o
fT'GGanSsts leaves round Its trunk to prevent
snakes from ascending, struck light and
kindled one of my torches, and was up to
the lowest branch before the rhinoccros
had stepped ashore. / saw it would be
seven feet. above him if he stood beneath
1T; for the rhinoceros raises itself TO hook
its horns on all branches it can reach, to
break them down for food, in the seasons
when other food is scarce. | could have a
joke with him now and watch his move
ulents. On he came, trudging and stump
ing, slowly, but earnestly, uttering sounds
which | read as | would the whines of a
dog that wanted to reach its master; not
that they resembled the canine winnings,
but the mode in which they escaped him
impressed me with that belief so strongly
that no consideration could have induced
me to hurt the animal anttI laid my aoer
on torked branch, as aiweapon for which
l had no present use. -
If billiard table could walk ), it must be
In the style OF that rhinoceros at that time.
L thought he must be lame and stiff. a''s
Now, am going to make an ascent to
hunt for snakes, and if find any, TO whip
them with this .frgrintts or o,naUs. T.. So
a, CLOSER ACQUAINTANCE. -.
searched the tree well, but found noth-
ing obnoxious. was rather intent upon
my task and was silent, which made my
new friend uneasy Any nonsense | talk
ed, strangely enough, seemed to please the
huge beast; but if ceased for moment,
he grunted and 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 friends
satisfaction was great.
L went down to offer him some biscuit
the attention seemed to please him might
ly-not so much, | thought, for the sake of
the bread as having me near him. ASH
offered the frangipani he rubbed his nose
against my hands many times, till i put it
inside his thick lips, when he crushed it in
style that would have touched the heart
OF toothless sailor 1 ate. more slowly:
ne got three shares out of four. / went
up Tor more, and for coffee, for / was thirs-
W. out his impatience drew me down
t very soon. i gave him the best half of
on,ee piscuits-a small supply for such a
ga att; as his interior. But nv stock was
geMscng low, and he really seemed tn no in
uluerent to them ~ - 49, " W -