The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
A HippOpOtamus Hunt.

The two boys had the good fortune to
secure the friendship and protection Of
Kalulu, boy about Selim's age, the
adopted son and heir Of the Watuta
king. They were assigned quarters as
comfortable az the negro cabins afford
ed, and were treated by Kalulu as hon
Ored guests, and he entertained them
with various amusements.
OF these the hunting expeditions we're
the most exciting. And, among the best
of them, was the hippepotamus hunt.
The three boys set out gaily one morn
ing for the river Liemba, short dis
tance from the village. They we're ac-
companied by two warriors of the tribe,
and also by two negro men, Simba and
Moto, who had formerly been slaves to
Selim's father, and who, now that the
father had been slain in battle, resolved
not to forsake the son, but to watch over
and care for him. Simba was a giant in
size and strength, and Moto was the man
of brains. He had a very cunning
head on his shoulders, and could always
give good advice.
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 hippopo-
tami. They landed at noon upon an is
land, and had just finished their lunch
when they heard low, deep believing
very near them. They were on their
feet in an instant, and ran noiselessly to
the edge of the island, and counted the
heads of herd Of hippopotami quietly
enjoying the cool, deep water.
Give Of them" cried Kalulu. "Now
for SPORT"
They quickly divested themselves of
part of their clothing, anticipating the
possibility of a swim, and jumped into
the canoe, SImba and Moto taking the
paddles, and one of the warriors seizing
the harpoon, to plunge it into the ami
NAL that should first approach.
They had not long to wait. A mon
strous 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 up the
river, dragging the boat after him with
frightful speed for the rope of the har-
poon was fastened to it. But in a few
minutes the speed slackened, and the
boat began to float down stream. "Pull
backl' cried the harpooner Simba and
Moto dashed the paddles into the water,
but it was too late; up came the gigan-
tic head of the hippopotamus, right
under the canoe, which was shot into
the air, while its occupants tumbled
heels over head into the water.
They all swan to the shore in safety
except Abdullah, who was wounded by
crocodile but rescued by Kalulu, Sim
by, and Moto.
After landing and taking care Of Ab-
dullah, the next proceeding was to hunt
for the canoe, which had been dragged
off by the wounded hippopotamus. 1t
was found among the reeds Of the island,
with the body of the dead hippopota-
mus 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
wound.-Fronl ".Sonle Boys in Africa," ,"
81. .NichOlds for February.