The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-02-16
Shooting the Hippopotamus.


Here, on my first day, lost my way
in the Jungle, about four miles inland,
and for long time was in a great fright,
climbing trees to try and get a view.
fortunately met some natives, VINO climb
ed cocoanut tree and got me some
milk, and on my trying to describe the
sea. at once made signs of intelligence.
Thinking / wanted to get to n lake to
shoot hippopotami, they took me two
more miles inland, and on reaching
some swampy ground, made signs OF
caution. AT last, parting the foliage,
they showed me a small lagoon. and for
the first time bcheld the mighty hip
popotalnus in his native lair, never dis
turbed by a white man before. My dis
gust may be imagined, us had only my
smoothbore, and on the opposite side of
the lake lay some eighteen hippos bask-
ing in the sun, and now and then giving
a below that made me laugh much. l
took accurate bearings of the place by
the wind and sun, and at last succeeded
CATER much fatigue, walking through
swamp and jungle) in reaching the
boat.
The next morning at daybreak l was
under way, with our black interpreter,
and armed with my Martini rifle. We
arrived at a village, and some natives
Immediately volunteered to guide me.
and come and see the fun. They hate
hippos, which do great mischief to their
little crops, sugar-canes, &C., besides
frightening them out of their wits at
night, and often knocking down their
houses.
When we reached the lake there lay
the unconscious hippos as before, in
fxsst fI,nfv IYrS,f
above the surface. The blacks guided
me round to the other side of the lake,
where, by wading out through the thick,
high sedge, l got within about seventy
yards of my quarry, one of the blacks
acting as rest for my rifle, and very
steady he was. selected the biggest
head as my target, and sent my little
messenger on his fatal journey. 1t
passed through the ramus of the ami
mails lower jaw, smashing the atlas and
axis, and the death-struggle that ensued
gave me an idea of what mighty brute
the hippois. Its entire body was hurled
out of the water (feet first), most fa-
tai sign, and volumes of blood, mud, and
water were sent high in the air, obscur-
ing every thing.
About twenty seconds afterward
large one rose to breathe some eighty
yards distant, and l sent No 9 straight
into his brain between eye and ear.
Death was in this case so immediate
that the animal did not make quite so
much disturbance as the first one. The
natives were astounded, and looked on
the rifle and me rs objects of the great
est interest. then shot two more,
and by this time the bodies of the two
first were being draggedashore.
Next morning was up early to cut
off their heads, as knew they would be
all floating by that time, and about ten
blacks accompanied me, one of them
making fast rope to the leg. On the
first being landed the blacks gave
hearty cheer, something like an Irish
''Ullagone, and l, jumping on the huge
carcass, proceeded to make speech
duly rendered into Swahile by my inter-
prefer. That day spent five hours up
to my middle in water getting the heads
of, the skin being about two and half
inches thick, and like india-rubber. The
blacks cut off all the flesh, and bore
away the skulls to the boat. have now
got two heads on board, and the lower
jaw of another; my big head and tusks
are the largest ever seen by any one on
board, the tusks of the lower jaw being
about nine inches long.-Ihe London
Field.