As Rhinoceros sondaicus . It has occurred to me as possible that the rumours [of the animals existence near the Mahanaddy River] may have got abroad from the fact of there having formerly been tame specimens in the possession of some of the Raja. At Barpali in the Dak in-tir of Sambalpur, the Raja told me that on the occasion of a marriage between a daughter of one of his ancestors and the Bama Raja, the bride's dowry had been a Rhino, which before that had for some years been kept at Barpali.
Rhinoceros sondaicus S. M?ll. - According to Dr. Jerdon 'a very few individuals (of this species) are stated to occur in the forest tracks along the Mahanadi River, and extending northwards to Midnapore.' So far as I have been able to ascertain there is no authentic case of a rhinoceros ever having been observed in the forest region bordering the Mahanadi. It has occurred to me as possible that the rumours may have got abroad from the fact of there having formerly been tame specimens in the possession of some of the Raja. In conclusion I do not know of any cover of grazing ground in the vicinity of the Mahanadi between Cuttack and Sambalpur suitable for a Rhino. The bed of the river is either rocky or sandy, and marshy 'jheels' occur but seldom in its neighbourhood and are then, in all cases, of small extent.
