 Reference Base  Notes on rhinoceroses in Burma, R. sondaicus and sumatrensis |
|
Evans, G.H., 1905. Notes on rhinoceroses in Burma, R. sondaicus and sumatrensis. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 16 (4): 555-561
|
|
|
|
| |
| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Myanmar (Burma) |
| Subject: |
Value - Related to Horn |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
 |
|
Burmans and Chinamen place a very high value on the horn and blood of rhinoceroses as medicinal articles. Wherein their virtues as drugs lie I do not know, but they are supposed to be most potent, especially in all diseases not yielding to ordinary drugs. I expect their fictitious powers are derived from the fact that, like the milk of a tigress or liver of crocodile and such other materials, they are not easily get-at-able nor always at hand to include in prescriptions. The local doctor, in the event of his patient doing badly, can always save his reputation by claiming that if he had some of these potent remedies, he could still effect a cure.
After hitting a rhinoceros, if he is considered to be 'in extremis', the tracker and any followers are down on him like vultures, the first thing, an all important business, being to plug any bullet holes in order to save as much blood as possible. If any be escaping rapidly from a wound a bamboo is there ready to receive it. Any blood that is on the ground and lost, occasions some grief. The blood is carried in lengths of bowel and thoroughly dried over a fire so as to resemble those queer articles of diet popularly known as 'black puddings.' It is sold at the rate of a rupee for every rupee in weight.
|
|
|
File available
details
Original text on this topic: