The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-08-14
/ [From Nerdhoff,,s Whaling and fishing."]
HippoptamuSs Hunting.

b [From Nerdhoif,,s whaling and fshing."l
| Hippoptamus Hunting.
TO get supply of wood for whale
cruise, is work requiring some days, and
often even weeks, and it had boen deter
mipedt dtlat the first, and if need be the
next day likewise should be devoted. to a
Ethotopgh inspection of tie facilities Of the
place, 10 order that we might work at rs
little Advantage rs possible.
Consequently, we, the mates boats crew,
had been ordered to prepare for general,
cruise. We provided ourselves with
store of bread and beef, filed the boats
breaker with wafer,a ,aspafed our sai te,. the
the light breeze ana pointed the boat bow.
towards the nearest island. Landing hgfs,
we found nought but wilderness Of low
sJ1ngle which was scarcely Fanelrable, to.
gether with n poor landing. We examin
ed three or four oftle. islets, and having at
last fixed upon suitable place where to
commence operations, We're about to re :
turn on board when the mate said,
Grim aft, Tom there's good breeze,
for coming and going, aud we'll take a
look ut the mainland" Accordingly, the
boats head was laid shoreward, and we
spread ourselves ont at full length upon
the thwarts, enjoying an unusual trent of
some cigars which our chief officer had
good naturedly brought with him.
When within about mile aud half
Of the main land, we found the water sheal.
ing, being then not more than three fatl-
oms-eighteen feet deep.
II saw blacRT skin glisten in the sun just
tlnen," said tie boat steerer, who was aft,
the mate having stretched himselfupon the
bow tllwart to take nap.
"It was nothing but pufingpig," said
lie drowsily.
".Thcre it is again, and no pulIins pig
either-nor porpoise-nor-no," said lie
with some degree Of animation, "nor any.
thing else that wears black skin that I ever
saw before"
This had the effect of rousing us up,
every one casting his eyes ahead to catch
sight of the questionable "black skin.''
"rhere lie blows !"-"and there again 7
-"and over here, too," said several voices
in succession.
ut ain't spout at all, boys, let's pull up
and see what it. is J"
We took to our oars, and the boat was
soon darting toward at good speed toward
the place where we had last seen the OBJ,
jcct ofour curiosity.
"Stcrn all suddenly shouted the mate
as the boat brought up, "all standing" a
g7.inst some object Which we had not been
able to seeean ACCOUNT of tho murkiness oi
the water, the collision nearly throwing us
upon our backs into' the bottom Of the
boat. AS we backed off, an enormous
beast slowly raised lis head above the wa
ter, gave loud snort; and incontipenMy
dove down again, ALMOST before we could
get fair look at it.
"What is it e. was now the question
which no one could answer. ~
"Whatever it is" said tile mate, whose
whaling blood was up, "if it COMES within
reach of niysifpR, III make fast to it, lads
so pull alraS" We .were again upde,
beadway, keeping a :. bright looE-out for
the appearance Of tie stranger. -.
"Tnefe they nre. a whole school," sai1
the mate; eagerly, pointing on shore, where
the glistcning Of white water showed tbatsa
number Of .tb4;popdeseEigts were evidea1y
enjoying THEMSELVES. "Now, boysspal
hard. aud we'll soon,try tleir mettie.s &
'HThere's sonetbing Broke water, justss 4
hesd said the BoatsteBrer.
Pull easy, 1ads-fsee him--thereEwa5
euough-tbere's IFS back l.. -.
"Stern sail r. shouteezhe, as lie s.dprtet
his iron ipte backAsss broad 'as y; snal
sperm whales
"Stern Observation-Disclosures eve
ry' Dans!" and the infuriated basst mad
desperate lunges in every direoaion,; max
ing the white-water fly almost equal toss
whale.
We could now see the whole ssape %
the creature as in his. agony and sarH5se
lie raised himself high above the .snrface
We al recognizedat at once tie Hppopate
mus, q he IS represented }n;books Of ah
ow sSbject soongot atiale cooler, and
I giving Il savage roar, bent lis .H6d round
until lie grasped theshank Of the IRON be
tween ltis teeth. Will, one jerk he drew it
ont Of his idSE}dg qhartet, and shaking j
savagely, d5f Swn % The bgtom. TIL
water was here about two fathoms deep;
and we could sesthe. direction in whicl, IL
was travelling along the bdtot.I, Iga lineso
blood, aswell as b: the air bubbles which
rose 20 the surface as, he breatbed.
"Giye me another iron, Charley. ant
vel net give lin a chance TO pub Il soB
next timer 6 4. 6, I$ss;z, =
/ The Iron was handed up, and we slowiy
sailed ID the directipn which epr prize wa
following n9ng the bottd e - IS
- Hsrss tN6 or tlisse sof tfIem estefn q
u.s. nsaid the boat tste4fer. z - = q. gl
just liien tau meIe srossS one on eitlier
q SIDE of tlis s6saf N faf5s unf sssat
4 .aroaimtiiy md sse sdasto re
aiiiSse our natiots - tlss s5Nptisd sbsast
q unable aay Inags 70 ssJsy hensaih TIN sur
! faces cams ii teaths jast ahead ss
J. arisilI aadsess 8 llittia ss1ss t9ath thi
a.a b I. d sa es s. & \ sy| s!| y
M our Is JzS