Morris, R.C., 1936. To Malaya for a rhinoceros. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 38 (3): 439-446, pls. 1-2
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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Malaysia - Peninsular |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
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Expedition to shoot a Rhinoceros sondaicus for AMNH - unsuccesful, with permission of Perak Government and Mr Theodore Hubback in 1935, unsuccesful but Dicerorhinus sumatrensis tracks were encountered.
On June 13th I left for my advanced camp, having had huts prepared in the forest some 12 miles north of Changkat Kereta, leaving Raven at our base camp. On my way I shot with my .22 rifle a fine specimen of seermang and sent it back to Raven. On arrival at my camp, on the upper reaches of the Erong, I had a bathe in the river while the Sakais completed a hut for themselves. That night I slept little being devoured by myriads of midges that invaded my mosquito curtain. For three days the jungle was searched for sondaicus's tracks without success. I had Sakais out in different directions quartering the jungle with the offer of a good reward for the discovery of a sondaicus's tracks. On the fourth day while some eight miles north-east of camp, two Sakais caught me up and produced a 8 + inch stick which was declared to be the measurement of a fresh rhino track that they had found. Although this was a bit small for a sondaicus track, I decided to follow it up. Returning to camp at noon, I sent a Sakai to raven with the information, and with Ngah and three men reached the spot where the rhino's tracks had been found 45 minutes later. The rhino's tracks had been found on a forest boundary separating the Chawang and Sungkei Reserves. Following up the tracks we eventually reached its wallow and from here on for considerable distance the undergrowth through which the rhino had gone was caked with grey mud and our clothes were very soon similarly covered, and very much the worse for wear, following the rhino's path through rattan and Zalacca. Ngah's excellent tracking surprised me. We later came on a heap of the rhino's faeces, somewhat similar to horse's droppings. It is well known to a rhino poacher that a rhinoceros is wont to return to the same spot to defecate, a habit it shares with some of the antelopes, and this, as often as not, leads to its destruction, the poacher occupying a machan over the spot. A rhino is worth Rs. 1000 or more to the poacher, its chief value is in its horn, but every part of it possesses a definite value, including the blood, as an aphrodisiac. Shortly afterwards we came on the fresh tracks of a solitary elephant which sometimes covered the tracks of the rhino; and our difficulties were increased by a heavy thunderstorm which made it well nigh impossible to distinguish new from old rhino tracks. Added to this the light was becoming very poor and I abandoned the search for the day. Although I felt fairly sure that the tracks were those of a large sumatrensis I decided to have this confirmed. It took us two hours to reach camp and a large part of the going was perfectly poisonous, we were frequently up to our knees in mud and water. Early next morning I left with Ngah and two men sending the remaining Sakais on to the Chawang river to prepare a new camp. Taking up the rhino's tracks again we found at about mid-day that the tracks had led under a fallen tree under which it was obviously impossible for a sondaicus to pass. This settled the question beyond doubt and we found our way to the dhawang camp by compass bearing. Later in the day we returned to our first camp and found Raven had arrived, and that night we discussed our future plans. We both felt that there was little chance of our coming on the tracks of a sondaicus, and Raven decided to catch the P. & O. boat to Hongkong from Singapore on the 20th, which involved his leaving for Teloh Anson early on the following morning. The forest west and northwest of the Chawana river had still to be examined, and I did not wish to abandon the search until this had been done, although I felt there was very little hope of success. Further I now had low fever nearly every day, and my legs were in a bad state from suppurating scratches and insect bites. Raven left early next morning still feeling none too well. Soon after he left I shifted everything to the new Chawang camp and arrived there feeling unable to do any tracking that day. Ngah and the Sakai trackers were sent out to continue the search. 'Miowk', my gibbon, who had been my devoted companion all through, was stung by a hornet on a tree near the camp and retreated yelling. Ngah and his men returned in the evening without having found anything but new elephant and sumatrensis' tracks. The next day found me still feeling feverish, but I accompanied Ngah while the other trackers went off in different directions as usual. No success attended our efforts either this or the following day. As our search had fairly covered this last area I decided to strike camp and return to headquarters, Teloh Anson. We left the Chawang river camp next morning and reached Changkat Kereta that afternoon. Here I paid off the Malays and all the Sakais, retaining those of Buloh Seruvas to accompany me to Lima Blas estate on the following day. My heavy outfit I sent round by boat down the Erong and Bernam rivers to Utan Milantang in charge of Gabriel, my skinner, with instructions to engage carts or a lorry for the kit and himself, Ngah, and our hardworking camp boy Alahmet, to Telok Anson. The camp supplies that remained over in the stripe of tinned fruits, rice, sugar, salt etc. I divided up between the camp staff. That evening I went over to the headmans house hearing music and much noise, and found the Malays and Saikais gambling away all their pay!
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To Malaya for a rhinoceros
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