The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-01
HUNTING A RHINOCEROS.

There are four varieties Of the rhinoc
eros found in Southern Africa, known
among the people by the names of the
borele, or black rhinoceros; the keitloa
or two-horned rhinoceros; the muchocho
/ or common rhinoceros; and the kabaoba,
I or long-horned white rhinoceros.
r The black species are exceedingly
: fierce and dangerous. They have way
J of dashing straight at any object which
, may attract their attention, whether it
has harmed them or not, that frequently
} upsets hunters calculations and often
the hunter himself, before he suspects
any such intention. Many a daring
hunter has lost his life by this peculiarly
sudden charge of the black rhinoceros.
They never become very fat, and their
flesh is very tough- and little esteemed
by the natives. .-
Some years since, party of English
hunters went northward from Cape
Town for the purpose of engaging in a
rhinoceros hunt Central and Southern
Africa, as is we'll known, is the paradise
of hunters, abounding with lions, gir-
affes, leopards, rhinoceroses, and all man
ner of royal game. There Is no danger
of a hunter being deprived Of the sight
of the most dangerous members of the
animal kingdom. The probability is al
together the other way.
The members of the party in question,
as rule, hunted together for the sake
Of greater safety, and for mutual protec-
tion. But one of their number, "a Mr..
Daymond, declared that that was a
childish way of doing business.
"We want the incentive of danger"
said he. "a danger that sends the blood
tingling through the veins, and compels
a man to do something worthy of the
name of man."
"But you may just get too much of
it," replied one of the friends, who was
endeavoring to disuade him from what
he considered suicidal purpose.
"The possibility of that is just what
gives zest to the whole thing" was the
reply of the obdurate hunter, as he. gal
loped away on his fleet animal Waving
J a good-by to them, he called back, in a
J nonchalant voice: '1f l amt back to
camp by sunset, you needn't expect to
see me again. Let my epitaph be, Died
of rhinoceros.
Mr.. Daymond was scarcely out of
sight of the camp, when he reached the
: bank of small stream. along which be
began leisurely making his way. After
going half a mile or 50, he came in sight
of bull of the borele, or black rhinoc-
eros standing 50 stationary and motion
less that it looked as if it were waiting
for the coming of the hunter.
The latter dismounted and tied his
horse to a strong bush, and then stealth
lily approached the beast until within
twenty yards without being discovered.
This was done by the common method of
interposing a large bush between his per-
son and that of the game which he was
seeking. But upon reaching it he made
, slight noise which attracted the atten-
ton of the monster, and in his usual
fashion he charged straight toward it.
The hunter, knowing that first shot was
comparatively harmless, sprang to his
feet and ran behind the bush. The now
thoroughly maddened rhinoceros
plunged after him, believing loudly, and
the race became very lively for a few
moments; but it was like Great Eastern
chasing dolphin.
| The superior activity of Daymond
made it an easy matter for him to keep
out of the way, and lodging hither and
thither for short time, the brute got
wind Of him and turned about and ran
as if a regiment Of cavalry had charged
upon him. The hunter sent bullet after
him, which produced little or no harm, for,
with a firt of his pig-like tail, he speedi.
. ly vanished in the bushes along the
: river.
J This trifling adventure increased the
desire of our friend for another brush
with the rhinoceroses which abounded in
the vicinity, and he determined not to
: return to camp until, in a fgurative
sense, he had Gagged" one of them.
: Remounting his horse, he dashed of
down the stream, for some distance
when he deviatet toward range of hills
which course soon led him into forest,
where he started an Gland. which is a
} species of antelope, the largest of its
} kind found in Africa, and, indeed,in the
; world. He was so feshy that after run.
ming short distance he became covered
=. with foam, and tell an easy prey to the
} hunters craftsmanship. ...
He had scarcely finished this game
when he beheld two large white rhinoc-
crosses trotting leisurely in front of him.
His horse showed SO much fear that ii
was only after a sharp application of the
spur that he could be induced to con.
tinue the chase.
One of the brutes fell somewhat be-
hind the other, and riding up, he gave
him bad wound in the shoulder. This
SO infuriated the brute that he wheeled
about and made a charge so suddenly
that the hunter came very near being
unhorsed in his attempts to avoid him;
but he soon succeeded in reloading his
piece, when he planted the next bullet
SO near his heart that he reeled, rolled
ovor +,> tha rro,,pd and diad with a