United States or Bangladesh ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
There was no noise to disturb him even the kobaoba for the moment was quiet. After standing a minute or so, the huge creature moved forward again, and entered the gorge already described. They at the camp had now a full view of him, at less than three hundred yards distant. An immense mass he seemed.
They are easily avoided, however, by the hunter springing quickly to one side, and letting them rush blindly on. The black rhinoceros is about six feet high at the shoulder, and full thirteen in length; while the white kinds are far larger. The "kobaoba" is full seven feet high, and fourteen in length!
There was no noise to disturb him even the kobaoba for the moment was quiet. After standing a minute or so, the huge creature moved forward again, and entered the gorge already described. They at the camp had now a full view of him, at less than three hundred yards distance. An immense mass he seemed.
For this reason it was, that upon that side, the bank was paddled all over with tracks of animals that had been to drink. Hendrik the hunter had observed among them the footprints of many kinds he knew nothing about. It was for the lower end of the lake the kobaoba was making no doubt with him an old and favourite drinking place.
It was probable the old kobaoba would not perceive them, if they approached from leeward, particularly as he seemed in the full tide of enjoyment at that moment. They were about to attempt the approach, and had got to their feet for that purpose, when a sudden fit seemed to have attacked Swartboy. The latter commenced jumping over the ground, at the same time muttering in a low voice,
Of the rhinoceros there are four varieties in South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas by the names of the borele or black rhinoceros, the keitloa or two-horned rhinoceros, the muchocho or common white rhinoceros, and the kobaoba or long-horned white rhinoceros.
"A rhinoster, is it?" said Von Bloom, knowing that "chuckuroo" was the native name for the rhinoceros, or "rhinoster," as he called it in Dutch. "Ya, baas," replied Swartboy; "and one o' da big karles da, 'kobaoba, da long-horn white rhinoster." What Swartboy meant by this was that the animal in question was a large species of rhinoceros, known among the natives as the "kobaoba."
Its rounded back was easily distinguished over the low bushes; and its broad hanging ears were moving as it marched. All saw at a glance that it was coming towards the lake, and almost in the same track that the rhinoceros had taken. Of course this new apparition quite disarranged the plans of the hunters. At sight of the mighty elephant, they scarce any longer gave a thought to the kobaoba.
In fact, the kobaoba rhinoceros is the quadruped next to the elephant in size; and with his great muzzle full eighteen inches broad his long clumsy head, his vast ponderous body, this animal impresses one with an idea of strength and massive grandeur as great, and some say greater than the elephant himself. He looks, indeed, like a caricature of the elephant.
Such a "rude hunter" as Gordon Cumming, for example, has done more to increase the knowledge of African zoology than a whole college full of "speculating" savans. These four kinds are known among the natives as the "borele," the "keitloa," the "muchocho," and "kobaoba."
Word Of The Day