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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India |
| Subject: |
Captivity |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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In Junagadh, Kathiawar, I saw the royal rhinoceroses wander as freely through the ba- zaars as elephants, though with their reptilian horned snouts they look utterly untamable; and, indeed, if of African race, would be so ——but all Asiatic beasts are of milder nature. They follow the proccssional-steed and be- dizened elephant in state-sowaris. Lady Curzon was snapshoted when she rode on one of them, but claimed the negative. Very vicious ones used to be kept for the great animal-fights of Khandarao of Baroda, the last Indian monarch who really lived in an- cient style and personal power. There was one in the fort of Gwalior be- fore it was restored to the Maharajah, with whom the garrison oFficers used to have exciting times that they called “Football with Rhino.” Of exceedingly violent temper, he was confined in a small enclosure sur- rounded with iron pillars wide enough to allow the lithe turbaned trainers to slip through, but too close for his monstrous bulk_to pass. Somewhere in the enclosure lay his food bucket, and this the players,‘ taking opposite sides, used for the ball. It was a dangerous game. Only two besides the rhinoceros could play. One would step inside and give the bucket a fearful kick: the instant the beast heard the bang he was after him like a horned locomotive. Then the other player would dash and get in a good whack while Rhino was chasing his companion—and his turn it was to flee while the opposite side got in its innings. Had one stumbled or been caught he would have “kicked the bucket” in- deed. After half-time was called the rhinoc- eros would often begin to play cunningly and lurk near the pail. When the Maharajah Scindia took on the fort and the garrison de— parted, poor Rhino pined away, he so missed his daily football-flirtation.
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The sacred animals of India
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