The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-02-05
A HippODOtamus Hunt.

The two boys had the good fortune to
secure the friendship and protection of
Kalulu, a boy about Selim's age, the
adopted son and heir of the Watuta
king. They were assigned quarters as
comfortable as the negro cabins affor-
ded, and were treated by Kalulu as hon
ored guests, ard he entertained them
with various amusements.
OF these the hunting expeditions
were the most exciting. And, among
the best of them, was the hippopotamus
hunt. The three boys set out gaily one
morning for the river Liemba, short
distance from the village. They were
accompanied by two warriors of the
tribe, and also by two negro men, SIM
ba and Motto, Who had formerly been
slaves to Selim's father, and who, now
that the fathsr had been slain III battle,
resolved not to forsake the son, but to
watch over and care for him. Simba
was giant in size and strength,
and Motto was the man of brains.
He had q very cunning head on
his shoulders, and could always give
good advice. --ri
The party were well armed. They
soon reached the river, and getting into
a canoe, padded swiftly down the
stream to the feeding grounds of the
hippopotaIni. They landed at noon
upon an island, and bad just finish, d
their lunch when they heard q low, deep
believing very near them. They were
on their feet in an instant, and ran
noiseiesslyto the edge of the island, and
counted the heads of herd f hippo
Potami quietly enjoying the cool, deep
waters.
4" Five of them u cried KaluIu.
Now for sport r. rrE
They quickly Invested themselves of
part of their clothing, anticipating the
possibility of swim, and jumped into
the canoe, Sinba and Motto taking the
paddles, and one of til warriors Selling
the harpCoD, to plunge ID into the ami,
NAL that should first spproach.
They had not long to wait. A mon
slrous head and neck soon arose out of
the water, close to the bow of the boat.
At the same instant the harpoon was
shot into the neck. The wounded ami
NAL Immediately sank and swan MP the
river, dragging the boat after him with
frightful speed, for the ropo of the har-
poOn was fastened to it. But in few
minutes the speed. slackened, and the
boat began to float down stream. ''Pull
hack Z" cried the harpooner. Simba and
Moio dashed the paddles iI.t1 the water,
bnt it was too late; up came the gigan-
tic head of the hippopOtamus, right IN
der the canoe, which was shot into the
air, while its occupants tumbled heels
over head into the water.
They all swarm TO the shore in safety
except Abdullah, who was wounded by
a crocodile but rescued by Kalulu,
Simbs, and Motto. 600
After landing and taking care of Alb
dullah, the next proceeding was to hunt
for the canoe, which had been dragged
of by the wounded hippopotamus. 1t
was found among the reeds of the Is
land, with the body of the dead hippopot-
anus still fastened to it by the harpoon
line. Together they dragged the huge
creature into shallow water, and loaded
the canoe with part of his flesh, which
is esteemed a great delicacy. Then
they lifted Abdullah carefully into the
boat, and returned to the village, where
the young Arab soon recovered from
his Wounds. Nicholas.
The skunk is no respecter of persons.
T., - =