Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-10-10
Select nlisfrlIonp.
TIE HTPPOPOTAMI1S.

The following account Of the capturing Of
the hppopotamns which was recently procured
for Qneen Victoria by the Pasha of Egypt, pos.
sesses not only all the interest of romance, but
throws much light on the habits and history of
this rare animal, which we believe was never
before brought alive out of its hunn's in the
depths of Africa. 1t is from Dickens nep Peri
odicdi, Household WordS, and is doubtless an au-
thenic narratve.-ED.
Before we give more exclusive attention to
the "iIlustrious stranger" we think it will be
advisable to present the reader with brief arI-
thentic account of the circumstances which led
to the honor confarred upon England by the vis-
It OF this extraordinary parsonage. The cIcum.
stunces are little kn0wn to the world; indeed,
we have reason to believe they have never be-
fore been published
The British Consul at Cairo had frequently
intimated to His bIghness the Pasha Of Egypt,
that live hippopotamus would be regarded as
u very interesting and valuable present in Eng
land. Now, there were sundry difficulties of a
serious nature involved in this business. Ia the
first place, the favorite resort OF the hippotam is
a thousand or fifteen hundred miles from Cairo
IN the second place, the hippopotamas being am
phibious, is not easily come-at able; when he
Is environed, he is tremendous antagonist, BY
reason of his great strength, enormous weight
his wrathfulness when excited, and we may add
his prodigous mouth with its huge tusks. We
are speaking Of the male hippopotamus. lie is
often slain by II number of rife balls The only
makes comic grin Of scorn at few and laid
low from dista ance: but as to being taken a.
live, that is a triumph which was scarcely ever
been permitted to mortal man of modern times
1t is quite a different matter in respect to the
elephant. He cannot take to the water, and
neither dive clean away, nor upset your boat
with plunge oil his forehead; besides which
you cannot get two tame renegade hippopotam
to assist in the capture and subjngaton of a rel.
alive, as is the case with elephants Accord.
ingly, His Highness the Pasha, not liking tc
compromise the dignity of despotism, and his
own position as sovereign of Egypt, by promis
ing anything, which he might, perhaps, be una
BILE TO perform, turned deaf ear to the repeat
ed overtures of the British Consul. lie neve
refused his request he simply did not hear wha
he said, or could not be made to have a clea
understanding as to what the Consul reall,
wanted. His I1ighness had already gved hin
the skin and bones of hippcpotami, and man,
other animals alive and dead. If he wished fo
any birds, he was welcome to as many as b.
pleased
1t so happened, however, that Abbas Pash;
took it into his head, or somebody had told him
that we had in England several extraordinary
breeds Of dogs, horses and cows--hounds tina
could catch gazelle by sheer feetness, smal
fghting-dogs that would master bu--horsel
that could compete with his finest Arabian
stecds, and and beat them in hard days hun
over rough ground. He bethought himself
therefore, of the hippopotamus. One good turr
of this kind might deserve another of dilfereu
kind.
80, Consul" said the Pasha abruptly on,
: day, when Mr.. Murray was dining with him, ''s
> you want hppopotamus ?"
"Very much, your Highness"
n And you think that such an animal woult
l. be an acceptable present to your Queen an
j. country?"
e He would be accounted great rarity" sal
9 the Consul "our country would receive bin
L with open arms-fguratively speaking-and tn
o public would crowd to pay their respects t
+ him."
e Abbas Pasha laughed at this pleasantly of tn
Is Consul. "Wsll," said he, ave will inqur