THE RHINOCEROS 165

the back horn being often longer than the front one.
Exceptionally this species may have three horns. It
is purely a vegetarian, and browses on the leaves and
twigs and even the roots of certain bushes; and
according to Mr. Selous it thrives in districts devoid
of grass, whereas the square-mouthed species could
not live in the hili country, owing to the pasturage
being insufficient.

Clumsy as the animal may look, the speed at which
he can move is considerable, and quite equal, for a
time at least, to that of the average horse. Among
the Hamran Arabs he is chased on horseback and ham-
strung, and a very exciting sport it iss These extra-
ordinary Nimrods hunt and kill wild animals of every
sort, from the antelope to the elephant, with no other
weapon than the sword, and defend themselves with
oval and circular shields of rhinoceros hide or the
almost equally tough skin of the giraffe. The average
sword of these hunters is a yard long, and has a
five and a half inch hilt, and a blade nearly two
inches across, almost as sharp'as a razor. With no
knowledge of swordsmanship they never parry with
the blade, but trust entirely to the shield, and content
themselves with slashing either at their adversary or
at the animal he rides. ‘One good cut, says Sir
Samuel Baker, ‘delivered by a powerful arm would
sever a man at the waist like a carrot.’ And then he
describes a rhinoceros hunt. ‘The two. rhinoceros
were running neck-and-neck like a pair of horses in
harness, but bounding along at tremendous speed
within ten yards of the leading Hamran. This was
Taher Sheriff, who, with his sword drawn, and his long