Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-03-30
Hunting the Hippo.
A traveller in Africa nAys:


Here, on my first day, I lost my way
N the jungle, abont four miles inland,
and for long time was in q great
fright, climbing trees to try and get O
lew. fortunately met some natives,
who climbed cocoanut tree and got
me some milk, and on my trying to des-
cribe the sea, at once made signs of in
telligence. Thinking wanted to get to
a lake to hippopotaIni, 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 small lagoon, and for
the first time beheld the mighty hip
popotamus in his native lair. never dis
turbed by q white man before. My
disgust may be imagined as had only
my smooth-bore. and on the opposite
side of the lake lay some eighteen hip
pos baskng in the sun, and now and
then giving below that made me laugh
much, took accurate bearings OF the
place by the wind and sun, and at last
succeeded (after much fatigue. walking
through swamp aud jungle) in reaching
the boat, The next morning at day
break / was under way, with our black
interpreter, and armed with my Mar
TIM rife. We arrived at a village,
and some natives Immediately volun-
teered to guide me, and come and see
the fun. They hate hippos, which do
great mischiefto their little crops, sugar
canes, etc., besides frightening them
out of their wits at night, and often
knocking down their houses. When we
reached the lake, there lay the uncon-
scious bippos, as before. in about six
feet of water, their heads just above the
surface. The blacks guided me round
to the other side of the lake. where by
wadlng out through the thick, high
sedge, got within about seventy yards
of my quarry. one OF the blacks acting
as rest for my rihe-and very steady
my target, and sent my little messenger
on his fatal Journey. 1t passed through
the ranus 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
is. Its entire body was hurled out of
water [feet frstl, q most fatal sign, and
volumes of blood, mud and water were
sent high in the air, obscuring every
thing. About twenty seconds afterwards
q large one rose to breathe some eighty
yards distant, and I sent No. 2 straight
into his brain between eye and ear.
Death was III this case so immediate
that the animal did not make quite so
mu"h disturbance as the first one. The
natives we're astonished and looked on
the rife and me as objects Of the great
est interest. / then shot two more, and |
by this time the bodies of the two first |
were being dragged ashore. Next NOR
ming 1 was up early to cut off their |
heads, as knew they would be all foa-
ting by that time, and about ten blacks
me, one of them making |
fast rope to the leg. On the first be- |
ing landed the blacks gave a hearty |
cheer, something like an Irish "Ulls-
gone" and I, jumping on the huge car
cass, proceeded to make a speech duly |
rendered into Swahile by my interpre-
ter. 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 oil the skulls to the boat. Ihaye |
got now 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 9 inches long. The
night before we left Delgado watched |
for the panthers by moonlight, and on
seeing three come out of the jungle.
jumped, gun in hand, out of the stern
with bare feet, aighting on some coral
which opened an old wound, and cut
my foot badly, so that l have now q
nasty suppurating hole in my foot.