Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-10-21
Military Bullets for Rhinos

Rhinos are greatly troubled by
small. crab-like ticks; these small red
brown parasites cluster under the tail,
along the abdomen and thighs. and
around the base of the eyelashes.
Though sight may be somewhat defec-
tive. hearing is fairly acute, and scent
h extremely keen. had occasion to
notice this at Campi-ya Simba. Only
NY gun bearer, as we call the servant
who carries ones gun or rife. was
with me, and I had but a single solid
Lee-Metford bullet left. when we no
Hced pair of rhinos. evidently a COW
with her calf. on the open plain about
. mile and a quarter from us. The
calf was lying down and the COW stood
BY 1t motionless. with dropping head.
We had to pass them, as they we're
directly In our path; but we were not
anxious to risk an encounter, having
but one single solid bullet for our pro-
kection. We decided to give them a
wide berth. and to outflank them at
The same respectful distance Of over a
mile. As long as the wind was in our
favor the rhinos did not stir; but as
I'VE were bound to pass to windward
Of them We kept wary eye on their
movements. Though there was but
the faintest breath of wind, the very
instant almost that we got to wind
ward of them the COW started and
burned round, and the young one
Jumped up. Both rhinos appeared
greatly alarmed, and we could see that
We we're the cause. although invisible
20 them.
The rh;nos l have shot, amongst
chem two fine old bulls, were all
smaller than my hippos. The rhino
has three toes. the hippo four and the
elephant FIVE. The foot of the ele-
plant Is the largest in size, the rhino
foot comes next. The hippo has a
comparatively small foot for so large
. body; this difference in size is ex-
planned by the fact that the hippo
spends the greater part Of its exist
ence In the water swimming. The
horns Of the rhinoceros are part and
parcel Of the skin. and merely a modi-
location of II, like a nall It follows
that the horns can be stripped OF the
skull without inj1ring any bone. The
anterior horn is usually longer than
the posterior horn. but sometimes the
reverse Is the case. The posterior
horn rests between the eyes on the
frontal bone, but the anterior horn is
supported on the nose, the nasal bones
being raised and strengthened to form
hard bony bump.
The horns are solid; the anterior
curves backward, the posterior is
straight and pyramidal. The anterior
horn of the female is usually more ele-
CANT than the corresponding horn of
the male, which Is evidently very
terrible weapon for fighting with, be-
Ing short, stumpy, sharply pointed and
very massive. The longest horn in
my possession came from my first rhi-
no. female; it measures Is inches
along the outer curve from tip to
base.
II caravan walking In single file
stretches a long. threatening line
across the path of the rhino, 1t prob
ably will charge right through the line,
snder the impression that this Is a
hostile demonstration meant to encir-
ale 1t; but once through the line. It
Aurries away. only too eager to es.
cape. II was at Nairobi. the Kikuyu
md OF the Athi plains, where shot
ny first and second rhino. was in
charge Of big caravan, as l was tax
ing ex-King Mbogo with his family and
followers back to Uganda. We were
delayed at Fort Smith and the food
supply was running short l therefore
went to shoot game. and l had shot
one hartebeest antelope and two
rhomsonii gazelles when a pair of rhi-
Dos appeared In the distance. The
Wind was blowing from the rhinos to-
wards us: was therefore able to ap-
proach within 200 yards. I used the
Lee-Speed rife with solid bullet.
Bagging Two