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McCosh, J., 1837. Topography of Assam. Calcutta, G.H. Huttmann, pp. i-xii, 1-266

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Location: Asia - South Asia - India - Assam
Subject: Distribution
Species: Indian Rhino


Original text on this topic:
[45-46] The Rhinoceros inhabits the densest parts of the forests ; the young ones are a good deal looked after for transmission to Europe ; but they are so difficult to be found, that a party with two or three elephants don't succeed in catching above one or two in a season, and these when caught frequently die in the nursing. The mode of taking them is to shoot the mother, which is ea- sily done by a large bullet, if struck on the fore- head, when the calf is secured. Frequently the mother lays hold of the young one with her teeth, and in her dying agonies, lacerates it so se- verely that it dies of its wounds. The old ones are frequently killed for their skin or their horn. The skin is valuable, and the best shields in the country are made from it. Great sanctity is attached to the horn ; so much so that the general belief is that there is no more certain way of ensuring a place in the celestial region* than to be gored to death by the horn of the rhinoceros. These horns are as hard as bone, very stout, and broad at the base, and seldom longer than eight or ten inches, though I have seen some at least seventeen : they have a slight curvature towards the forehead, and in colour resemble the buffaloe's. The horn is not a pro- cess of the bones of the nose, but united to them by a concave surface so as to admit of being detached by maceration, or a severe blow. It has no pith, but the centre is a little more cellular than the rest of it. Considering the wild and sequestered habits of these the most retired of all animals, it is surprising how very easily they are tamed. With a little training a young one, a few months after being caught, may be turned loose to feed, and be ridden on by children. They speedily contract a strong affection for their keeper and come at his call, and follow his heels like a dog wherever he goes.

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