The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-01-14
From Nordo6s I Uhaling and Fishing.
Eippopotamus Hunting.

bo the next day likewise, should be de.
voted to thorough inspection Of the
facilities Of the place. in order tina, we
might work at as littlo disadvantage as
possible.
Consequently we, the mates boats
crew, had been ordered to prepare for a
general cruise. Wa provided ourselves
with store of bred and beef, filled tho
boats breaker with water, spread out
sail to the light breeze, and pointed .he
boats bow toward the nearest island.
Landing here we found uaught but a
Wilderness Of low jungle, which was
scarcely penotrable, together with a poor
landing. We examined three or four Of
islets, and having at last fixed upon
suitable place where to commence oper-
! atfons, were about to return on board,
when the mate said.
Trim aft, Tom, there's a good breeze,
fair coming and going, and we'll take a
look at the mainland Accordingly
the boats head was laid shoreward and
we spread ourselves out at full length
upon the thwarta enjoying an unusual
treat Of some cigars which our chief off
Ger had good paturedly brought with
him.
When within about mile and half
of the main land, we found the water
shoaliug, icing then not more than three
fathoms - Eighteen feet deep.
4 saw black skin Clissen in the sun
just then. sail tho boat s,ecrer, who
wa, aft, the mato having stretched him
sell upon the bow.thwart to take uup
1t was nothing but puiing pig, said
he drowsily.
There it is again, and no putting pig
cither-nor porpoise-nor-nc, said he
with some degree Of auimation-'nor
anytbing else that wears black skin that
ever saw before
This had the effect Of rousing US up,
every one casting his eyes ahead to catch
a sight of the questionable black skin.
There lie blows and there again =
and over here too,' said several voices
in succession.
1t aint spout a. all boys, let's pull
up and SEQ what it is.
We tool, up our oars, aud tho boat
was dartirg forward at good speed toward
the place where We had last seen the OBJ
ject of our curiosity.
Stern all = shouted the mate, as the
boat brought up all standing against
some object which we had not been able
to see on account of the murkiness Of
the water, the collision rearly throwing
us upon our backs into the bottom of the
boat AS we backed off, an enormous
beast slowly raised his head above the
water, gave a loud snort, aud incontl'
ncntly dove down again, almost boforo
we could got fir look at it.
What is it = was now ihe question
which no one could answer
Whoever it is said the mate, whose
Whaling blood was up If it comes within
reach Of my iron III make fast to it,
lads-so pull ahead We were again
under Roadway, keeping bright look
out for the temperance ofthe stranger
There they are. a whole school, said
the mate, eagerly, pointing in shore,
where the glistening of white water show
cd that a number the nou-doscripts were
evidently enjoying themselves. Now,
boys, pull hard, we'll soon try their met
tie
There's something broke water jist
ahead said the boat.steerer.
Pull easy lads---I see him-there-
way enough--there's his back -
.Stearn all shouted he, as he darted
I his iron into a back as broad as small
sperm whales.
Stern all-back watcr-back water,
every man and the infuriated beast
made dcspcrata lunges in every direction,
making thc white water hy almost equal
/ to n whale.
We could see the whole shape of the
creature as in his agony aud surprise he
raised himself high abnve tue surface.
We all recognized at once the HlPpopo.
tanus as he is represented in books OF
natural history.
Our subject soon got little cooler E,
and giving a savage roar, bent his head
/ round until he grasped the shank of the
iron between his teeth. With one jerk
he drew it out of his bloedieg quarter,
and shaking it savagely dove down to
/ the bottom The water was here but
about two fathoms deep, and we could
see the direction in which he was travel
ing along the bottom, by a linz Of blood,
as well as by the air bubbles which rose
to the surface as he breathed
Give me another iron, Charley, and
we'll not give him a chance to pull it out
next time
The iron was handed up, and we slow
ly sailed in the direction which our prize
was following along the bottom.
Here's two or three Of them astern of
u.s. said the boat steerer
Just then two more rose, one on eth
er side of the boat, and in rather an
pleasant proximity, anu before we had
begun to realize our situation the wound
ed beast unable any longer to stay be
meath the surface, ,came up to breathe just
ahead
Pail ahead little let's get out oi
this snarl. Lay the boat around sd
now, stern all, and the iron was plant
ted deep in the neck Of our victim With
a roar louder than a DOZEN of tho wild
bulls Of Madagascar the now maddened
beast made for the boat.