All eyes were instantly turned in the direction whence came the "skreek"
of the bird, and there, sure enough, were a brace of rhinoceroses of the
biggest kind. They were just entering the little glen, through the gap
before mentioned; and were coming down the channel of the river,
plunging through the water as they walked knee-deep.
The superior size of their bodies, as well as their colour, told they
were white rhinoceroses; and the long horn upon the snout, pointing
slightly backward instead of forward, showed they were of that species
known among the natives as "muchocho," and among naturalists as
_Rhinoceros simus_.
The other species of white rhinoceros is the "kobaoba," lately named
_Rhinoceros Oswellii_; although in my opinion it should have been
_Rhinoceros Cummingii_--since the great lion-hunter was not only the
first to give any definite characteristics of this rare species, but
more than any other man has he contributed to a knowledge of the South
African _fauna_.
The principal distinction between the kobaoba and muchocho is observed
in the set and size of the horns. In neither species is the posterior
horn any thing more than a conical knob of six or seven inches in
length; but in each the anterior horn is very long--far exceeding that
of the black rhinoceroses. In the kobaoba, this horn sometimes reaches
to the enormous length of four feet, and even exceeds that measurement;
while in the muchocho, three feet is the limit. In the former the horn
projects forward, standing at an angle of forty-five degrees with the
line of the snout; whereas that of the muchocho is erect, with a slight
curve or sweep backwards.
Both species far exceed in size the two kinds of black rhinoceros, and
are fully equal to their great Asiatic congener--he with the curious
shield-like skin, so well known in picture-books, museums, and
zoological gardens. In other words, the white rhinoceroses of South
Africa are in point of magnitude, after the elephant, the largest
quadrupeds in the world. In point of habits they differ altogether from
the black species. They are grass-feeders, as the shape of their muzzle
testifies; while the black kinds browse upon various kinds of shrubs and
acacia thorns, and are furnished with a prehensile lip for the purpose
of more easily grasping the twigs and branches.
As has been elsewhere observed, in disposition the two kinds are also
very different. The black rhinoceroses--both "borele" and "keitloa"--
are of an extremely vicious and malignant nature, and more dangerous
even than the lion. They are swift of foot; and, but for their
defective powers of vision, it would be a perilous thing to approach
them. The white species, on the contrary, are slow, and less disposed
to make an attack upon man. When these are wounded, or are accompanied
by their young, the case is different. They then exhibit all the
ferocity of their race; and many a native hunter has fallen a victim to
the rage of both the kobaoba and muchocho.
The flesh of the two last-named species is excellent eating--being
almost as good as fresh pork. It is not so with the flesh of the black
rhinoceros, which is strong, rancid, and bitter.
Now, knowing the general disposition of the "muchochos," and knowing
also the delicate flesh which these animals afford to the hunter, our
young yagers at seeing them lost all sense of alarm. They at once
rushed to their guns, and commenced preparing to receive the advancing
quadrupeds. Had it been boreles or keitloas, they would have acted
differently; and would, perhaps, have thought only of flying to their
horses, or of ensconcing themselves in the wagons. Of white
rhinoceroses, however, they had no fear; and having armed themselves,
they advanced boldly and openly to the conflict.
By this time the muchochos had got fairly through the pass; and,
climbing out of the river-channel, stood up on the grassy sward of the
meadow. Their naked bodies, thus fully exposed to view, appeared of
enormous size. One, however, was much bigger than the other--in fact,
quite as large as a female elephant--for it was full sixteen feet in
length from the tip of its long blunt snout to the "whisk" upon the top
of its short tail.
But what caused astonishment to the advancing hunters was the fact, that
instead of the two of these animals which they had already seen, three
now appeared upon the bank. The third, however, was not larger than an
ordinary hog; and, excepting that its snout wanted the characteristic
horn, it might have passed for a miniature of the other two. Small as
it was, there was no mistaking it for any other animal than a
rhinoceros; and its size as well as actions showed that it was the
young, or "calf," of the two old ones, that were respectively its male
and female parent.
The hunters were delighted with this new discovery. The flesh of the
young white rhinoceros is much more delicate and tender than that of the
full-grown ones; and all of them, but particularly Swartboy and Congo,
now indulged in the anticipation of a rare treat.
No one thought of the increased danger of their thus attacking the
rhinoceros in company with its young. That was forgotten in the hurry
and excitement of the moment. The prudent Hans alone had some
misgivings; but carried away by the enthusiasm of his companions, he
failed to make them known. In ten seconds afterwards a volley of
reports rang through the little glen; and by that same volley a shower
of bullets--varying in size from the large ounce-ball of the
elephant-gun to the small pea of the rifle--was poured upon the
muchochos.
The only visible effect produced upon the animals was to cause them
suddenly to change their gait, from the slow waddle at which they had
been advancing, to a brisk rapid gallop, which was directed precisely
toward the spot where the hunters were standing! At the same time the
huge animals were heard to snort and blow like porpoises; and the
sparkling of their small eyes, the quick lashing of their saucy tails,
and the long horns set horizontally, showed that they were charging
forward in the full bent of their fury. The "calf" followed in the
rear, imitating the noise and actions of its ponderous parents.
This to the hunters was a movement wholly unexpected. Had it been
borele or keitloa there would have been nothing strange in it. On the
contrary, it was just as either of the black rhinoceroses would have
acted. But from muchocho--usually so harmless as to be called cowardly
and stupid--an attack of this nature was quite unlooked for. The report
of a gun, or even the barking of a dog, will usually put the muchocho to
flight.
But our yagers had not reasoned correctly when they expected these
either to fall to their shots, or take to instant flight. _They had
forgotten the presence of the calf_. That it was which caused the white
rhinoceroses to act upon this occasion contrary to their usual habit--
that, and perhaps the wounds they had received--for several of the
bullets, although not fatal, had made painful wounds. So much the
worse.
Of course, none of the young yagers stood their ground to receive this
heavy charge. Their guns were now empty, and it would have been of no
use. On the contrary, each and every one of them turned instanter; and
no mischievous urchin ever ran faster from a parish beadle than did all
six of them towards the camp. The tails of their coats made a
considerable angle with the line of their backs, as they "sloped" across
the level sward of that little meadow.
The short thick Bushman and the tall lank Kaffir--both of whom had gone
forth to the attack--were not a bit behind in the retreat; and the whole
eight were mingled together in such a helter-skelter pell-mell race, as
had never before been witnessed in that silent and solitary glen.