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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia |
| Subject: |
Captivity - Before 1800 |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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On the 20th of the present month of May 1515, arrived at Lisbon, the noblest city of the whole Luzitania, and at present an excellent emporium, an animal called by the Greeks, rinoceros, and by Indians, ganda. The beast was sent by the most powerful King of the city of Combaia, India, as a present to the most serene D. manuel, King of Portugal. It is stated by Pliny that at the time of Pompey the Magnus, a similar beast was shown in their games, to the Romans, along with other animals. He describes the rhinoceros as follows: It has a horn on the nose, is an enemy to the elephant and, before attacking, sharpens the [34] horn on a stone, then strikes it on the chest, as this is the weakest part of the elephant. He also states that it is as big as an elephant, but the legs are shorter and the colour is similar to that of the box-tree. This description is similar to that of Strabo at the end of his Book, and which is as follows: 'Artemidoro states that he saw at Alexandria very strong panthers and rhinoceros, which the elephant very little exceeds in length, or height. The colour of the rhinoceros I saw, was not similar to the box-tree, but to the elephant. It has the bulk of a bull, and the shape was similar to a wild boar, chiefly the head, but with the exception of the nose which is curved by a horn, and harder than bone. It uses this horn as a weapon, like the wild boar uses the teeth. It has also two folds from back to chest, like snakes round the body, one at the neck, and the other at the back. I state these details, as I saw them, but Artemidoro adds that this beast fights the elephant on account of pasture. It attacks the elephant charging him at the chest, and with the horn tears it to pieces, but the elphant may defend itself with the trunk or teeth and then the rhinoceros may be thrown down.'
Strabo's description of the rhinoceros is in accordance with the animal I saw here, chiefly with regard to the hatred between the two beasts. On the day of the Blessed Trinity [3 June 1515], when an elephant was led to a courtyard, near the King's Palace, and later the rhinoceros was led to the same place, I saw, the elephant uneasy and furious turning to one side and the other, then uttering a tremendous cry, run to one of the barred windows and with the trunk and teeth wrenched the iron bars (as thick as an arm) and fled away.
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Lettera scripta da Valentino Moravia germano
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