The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-03-30
The iiippopotamus.

Inc hippopothmuss
From the earliest times to within
the last century, the natural history
Of the hippopotamns has consisted OF
a tissue OF errors and contradictions
Tie first accurate knowledge of it
was obtained about the year 1903,
when FREDERICK Zcreughi captured
two of them in a deep pit, dug for
that purpose, close to the Nile, near
Damietta; the account of which 10
gether with description of the ami
mails, he printed at Naples.
The hippopotamus is exclusively a
denizen of Africa. He seems, how
ever, to have deserted lower Egyt,
and is now rarely, if ever seen below
the Nile. He is met within Nubia
and Abysima, and, indeed, through
out the vast interior of Africa, where
ever large rivers or lakes afford il a
congenial abode. ......1
He seems to be perfectly harmless
when unprovoked, except that he
sometimes gets into the plantations
in the vicinity of his haunts, and
crushes and devours crop of maize,
or mil let. lie would rather avoid
lighting or quarreling; but, like all
other brute creation, can retaiate an
injury with fury, which is rendered
frightful by his enormous weight.
He looks best when walking in the
shallow part of lake or river, just
under the water, with his eyes open !;
but if there should be boat or ca
noe on the surface, the sooner it
bears its freight to the shore the bet
ter; for he is sure at least to try and
upset it with his huge back (; not that
he has any murderous intentions, but
he probably thinks it is an intrusion
on his peculiar domains.
The hide Of the hippopotamus, of
which tremendous whips are made,
is, at least two inches thick, and has
no hair upon it.; his legs are so short,
that the body Of one that is full grown
almost reaches the ground, and some
times measures five feet across; his
tail is We, y short and insignificant,
and his eyes very small. They live To,
gcther in small numbers, feed chiefly
on grass and aquatic plants, and
come forth at night. Each foot has
four toes, and each toe u separate
hool; the nostrils open at the top Of
the muzzle their flesh is thought to
be very good To eat, and To resemble
pork. A thick layer OF fat lies just
under the skin, which the Africans
look upon rs q great delieacy for the
table. The male is the largest; and
two species are said to exist. The
exploits of Mr.. Gordon Coming gives
us lively picture OF their habits,
but there is nothing in his work
which affords the slightest interest
| in their mental faculties. The follow
ing account from the pen of Captain
Owen, who explored so large por-
ton OF the African shores, is the only
instance have met with which wears
the semblance OF almost unproyolSed
anger on the part of the hippopota
mus: "While examining branch OF
the Temby river, in Deiagoa BAY, 4
violent shock was suddenly heard
from underneath the boat, and in an
other moment, a monstrous hippo,
potamus reared itself up from tho
water, in a most feroclous and men
aciug attitude rushed open mouthed
Mt the boat; with one grasp Of his
tremendous jaws, il seized and tore
several planks from her side; the
creature disappeared again for few
moments. aud then arose again, ap.
parently intending to repeat the at
tack, but was unfortunately deferred
by the contents OF a nuskct discharge
in its face. The boat rapidly filled
hut as she was no more than an oars
/ length from the shore, they-th'
crew-succeedCd in reaching it he
fore she sunk. The keel, in all prob
ability, had touched the back Of til,
animal, which, irritating him, occa
stoned this furious attack; and had hC
got his upper jaw above the gunwale
the whole broadsidc must been torn
out. The force of the shock from
beneath was so violent, that her sterr
was almost lifted out of the water
aud Mr.. Tambs, the mid shipmau
steering, was thrown overheard, but
| fortunately rescued before the irrita.
ted animal could seize him.
The hippopotamus, with bis shy
ana secluded habits, may be easily
passed as he lies concealed among
the weeds which grow by the side OF
the river, but il one gets into the
water be is always to be detected by
! the blowing noise which he makes.
i The aquatic propensities Of the an
imal develop themselves at very
early age. The young calf betalSes
itself TO the water few hours after
its birth, and is perfectly at home
there. Thunberg relates that the