Evening star., 1923-11-25

Theirs not to reason why. theirs
but to do and die"
But It fs stupidity. not duty. that
keeps the rhino from reasoning. He
is the stupidest old fellow in Africa
know that many experienced hunt
ers likewise consider him one OF the
most dangerous animals in Africa
can't quite agree with this. OF course.
II he runs over you not only is It dan
gerous. but 1t is also likely to be
fatal. 1t Is also true that as soon az
he smells man he IL likely to start
charging around In q most terrify-
Ing manner. but the rhino 10 never
| cunning like the elephant, nor 10 his
charge accurate like that Of a lion
nor is the rhino vindictive like the
buffalo or the leopard. Most mems
estimate of the relative dangers OF
African animals is based upon theil
own experience. The animals tha,
have mauled them worst or scared
them worst they hold most danger.
Gus. I have been mauIed by an ele-
phant, chewed by . leopard. and
scared half to death q dozen times
by lions. so that have tho very
frmest convictions about the dan.
gers Of these animals.
On the other hand have twice
been caught by rhinos in positions
where an elephant. lion or q leop-
ard would have had me In NO time,
and both times the rhinos left me un-
molested.
When I first went to Africa I had
the same experience as every one else
Rhinos getting wind Of me would
charge me and to save myself I'd
shoot. suppose I had stood Oh
twenty Of these charges with my rife
before I discovered that II did not
shoot 1t would not necessarily be
fatal.
I discovered the fact. OF course
quite by accident. was going along
the bank Of the Tana river one day
with my camera. My gun boys were
some distance behind so as not to
disturb any animal that might afford
a picture. Suddenly was set all {
CULVER by the threshings and snort.
ings Of rhino coming through the
bushes In my direction. very hastt-
ly took stock Of the situation. There
was nothing to climb. Between me
and the thicket from which the rhino
was coming was about twenty-five
feet Of open space. Behind me was g
thirty-foot drop TO the crocodile-in.
Tested waters of the Tana- The only
hope J saw was a bush overhangirs 6
the brink whIch looked as II it might
or might not hold me If / swung out
ON II.
My mind was fixed to try the bush
and let the rhino land In the river In
the hopes the bush would hold and
wouldn't join him. Tho bushes were
thrust aside and he came full tilt into
the opening where he could see me.
Everything was set for the final act.
He suddenly stopped with . snort.
His head dropped. His eyes almos,
closed. He looked as IL he were go
ing to sleep. The terrible beast had
become absolutely ludicroua While
this was going on I felt q poke In my
back. / reached behind and took my
rifle from the gunboy who had come
up with celerity and bravery. I drew
a bead on the old fellow. but could
not shoot. A stupider or more gro
| tesque looking object I never saw.
I began talking to him. but 1t did
not rouse him from his letharEy.
There he stood. half asleep and total
ly oblIvious. while I. with tho gun
half aimed. talked to him about his
ugly self. About this time my porters
came into hearing on a path behind
the rhino. He pricked up his ears
! and blundered of in that direction.
| heard tho loads dropping as the por-
ters made for the trees. The rhino
| charge through the safari and OH
| into tho bush.
| At another time three Of them
"A charged me when was sitting
down and unarmed. I couldn't get
up in time to get away or get a gun,
80 I merely continued to sit. This
time they didn't stop and doze. but
! they went by on both sides ten or
| fifteen feet away. This kind OF charge
pleased mo h SOOu oodA AhoIo huO
| seemed to satisfy them just as much
az II they had attacked some one.
! These experiences have led me to
! think that in his biundering charges
| the rhino has no clear object-like
q lion, for instance. Even his blum
derins charge is dangerous. Of course.
II you are in the way. but firmly be-
lievs that the rhino il too stupid to
be either accurate in his objective.
fixed In his purpose or vindictive In
! his Intentions.
This does not mean that a lot of
people have not been killed by
rhinos. They have; but I do believe
that compared with other African
animals the danger OF tho rhino is
generally exaggerated. When he
smells something he comes toward
1 the scent until he sees what 1t is.
AS he can't see very far. no man with
/, a gun is likely to let him come with
! in seeing distance without shooting.