A History of Agriculture in India v2.c69.s2.10

v2.c69.s2.10

'The rhinoceros is another. This also is a large animal, equal in bulk to perhaps three buffaloes. The opinion current in those countries (Tramontana) that it can lift an elephant on its horn seems mistaken. It has a single horn on its nose, more than nine inches (23 cm) long; one of two *qārish* is not seen. Out of one large horn were made a drinking-vessel and a dice-box, leaving over (the thickness of) 3 or 4 hands. The rhinoceros's hide is very thick; an arrow shot from a stiff bow, drawn with full strength right up to the arm-pit, if it pierce at all, might penetrate 4 inches (10 cm). From the sides of its fore and hind legs, folds hang which from a distance look like housings thrown over it. It resembles the horse more than it does any other animal. As the horse has a small stomach so has the rhinoceros; as in the horse a piece of bone (pastern?) grows in place of small bones, so one grows in the rhinoceros. It is more ferocious than the elephant and cannot be made obedient and submissive. There are masses of it in the Parashāwar and Hashnagar jungles, so too between the Sind-river and the jungles of the Bhira country. Masses there are also on the banks of the Sāru-river in Hindustan. Some were killed in the Parashāwar and Hashnagar jungles in our moves on Hindustan (Fig. 26). It strikes powerfully with its horn; men and horses enough have been horned in those hunts. In one of them the horse of a brave named Maqṣūd was tossed a spear's-length, for which reason the man was nick-named the rhino's aim.