Sumatra. The Tapirus Indicus or 'saddled' Tapir, is a timid, goodnatured and quite harmless herbivorous animal. Its only weapons are its teeth and bulk (length 2,5 M; height 1,20 M.), for the latter may be used in knocking down and trampling an aggressor. It has on the fore- and hindfeet respectively three and four sharp pointed toes, whereas the Rhino possesses only three, which are more or less circular. For an expert tracker it will be therefore easy enough, to distinguish them from each other.
1932, Sumatra, up to 1500 guilders
Then as suddenly, that well remembered snorting, immediately followed by an angry roar and stamping of the brute's massive feet. That indicated business without a doubt
For me, because all expenses, troubles and vexations, were at last crowned by getting this really very big male specimen of the one-horned Rhinoceros Sondaicus Desm (or javanensis Cuv), one of the biggest of its species. Heretofore, zoologists had not been aware, that the Rhinoceros Sondaicus was also native to Sumatra, and not only to Java and the mainland of Asia. This one, the first of a series of seven shot by me, proved it beyond doubt.
Horn is used as aphrodisiac
Though it had not rained for over a month, the track was easy to follow, for luckily our friend did not use the beaten paths, preferring to make a new one. At about eleven o'clock, the track became much clearer, so with the utmost care we advanced, now and then stopping motionless to listen. Suddenly we heard terrific snorting, and the sound of a heavy body crashing through the underwood, but after some moments, silence reigned supreme again, this being due to the uncanny way these animals, representing so many tons of flesh, muscles and bones move through the forest without making unnecessary noises.
But Allah be praised, that day our luck was really incredible. We had been scouring the bush for five days, without the tiniest bit of luck. Then, when least expected, our friend passed at less than a hundred yards from the very ladang we had chosen for our camp. This sounds unbelievable, for the Rhino is known to be particularly shy, giving inhabited places always a wide berth. But this one, as I had occasion enough to learn on my previous trips even dared to cross the larger inhabited ladangs nearer the villages. According to all concerned, the brute could not have gone far. So we had a fair chance.
With nerves taut through excitement, we crept on, careful to the utmost, for anything might be happening now. Arriving at a cluster of big trees, we found, that had we but come some minutes earlier, we could have surprised our pachyderm taking its bath in a mudpool. In these pools, called koebangs, the Rhino likes to wallow, just like the buffalo, to cover its hide with a thick layer of mud, to protect, it against heat, leeches and ticks. These koebangs are found at fixed intervals, in the haunts of the Rhino, that it may indulge in its particular hobby, as frequently as it likes.
Sumatra. And what about our friend Rhino ? Well, he went the way of all Rhinos, i.e. to the chemist's of the Celestial Empire, with hide and hair, to give - with more or less results -Youth and Vitality, to old sinners and patriarchs, who still refused to renounce the Pleasures of Life. The Chinese gladly pay quite a lot of money for the hide of the One-Horned Rhino (up to Fl. 1500), and especially the Chula or horn, will fetch fancy prizes, even up to 4000 guilders. The Two-Horned Rhinoceros Sumatrensis is, on the contrary, far less valuable, will fetch in fact only about one tenth of the above mentioned prize-limits. Hide, horn, blood and other parts of the body, pulverized or as an extract, provide the most essential ingredients for very potent and renowned medicines. According to the Chinese and the Natives those medicines should be able to give back lost strength, youth and vitality and cure various diseases. The horns are sometimes modelled into goblets. Water or some other liquid when left in such a vessel for some days, should then become a veritable panacea against all ailments and diseases, even tuberculosis and the plague. Further on, poisoning the possessor of such a goblet would be impossible, because the poisonous mixture would immediately begin to effervesce, if poured into it. The belief attached to the magical curative and invigorating powers of those drugs, is a survival of animism. The Rhino is to those simple-minded people the symbol of exuberant male vigour, and accordingly that much coveted strength must adhere, more or less powerful, to every part of the body. In using those parts as a medicine, it would be possible to impart some of that strength to the consumer.
1932, Sumatra, Horn 4000 guilders
