Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-02-22
Shooting the Hippptaums, East Coast
OF africa.
from the London Field

Here. GU my first day, I lost my way
in the jungle, about four miles inland,
and for q long time was in great fright,
climbing trees to try and get view. /
fortunately met some natives, who
climbed cocoanut tree and got me
some milk, and on my trying to describe
the sea, at once made signs of intel
ligence. Thinking wanted to get to a
lake TO shoot nippopotami, they took me
two more miles lnland, and, on reaching
some swampy ground, made signs of
caution. At last, parting the foliage.
they showed me small lagoon, and for
the first time beheld the mighty hip
popotamus in his native lair, never dis
turbed by white man before. My dis
gust NAV be imagined az had only my
smoothbore, and on the opposite side Of
the lake lay sumo Is hippos basking in
the sun, and now and then giving bel
low that made me laugh much. I took
accurate bearings Of the place by the
wind aud sun, and at last succeeded (af-
ter much fatigue, walking through
swamp and jungle jim reaching the boat.
The next morning at daybrcak l was
under way, with our black interpreter,
and armed with my Martini rifle. We
arrived at village, and some native i'm
mediately volunteered to guide me, and
come and see the fun. They hate hip
pos, 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
about six feet Of water, their heads Just
above the eurface. The blacks guided
me round to the other side Of the lake,
where, by wading out through the thick,
high sedge, ] got within about seventy
yards Of my quarry, one of the blacks
acting as o 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 animals
lower jaw, smashing the atlas and axis,
and the death struggle that ensued gave
me an idea OF what mighty brute the
hippo ia. Its entire body was hurled ont
OF the water fleet first) most fatal sign,
and volumes of blood, mud, and water
were sent high in the air, obsclring
everything. About 20 seconds after
ward large one rose to breathe some
so yards distant, and sent No. 2 straight
into his brain between eye and ear.
Death was in this case 30 immediate that
the animal did not make quite so much
disturbance ~ the first one. The ma
tives were astounded, and looked on me
and the rifle a. objects OF the greatest
interest. then shot two more, and by
this time the bodies of the two first
were being dragged ashore.
Next morning was up early to cut of
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 q
hearty cheer, something like an Irish
Ullagone." and /, jumping on the
huge carcas, proceeded to make
speech duly rendered into Swahile by
my interpreter. 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 of all the flesh,
and bore away the skulls to the boat. /
have now got two heads en- board, and
the lower jaw Of another; my big head
and tuaks are the largest ever seen by
any one on board, the tusks Of the lower
inv being about nine inches long. The
night before we left Delgado / watched
Tor the panthers by moonlight. and. on
seeing three come out Of the Jungle,
jumped, gun in hand, ont OF the stern
with bare feet, alighting on some coral
which opened an old wound, and cut my
fost badly, 20 that have now nasty