The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-10
Hunting HiDDODOtani.
BY wILF r. FOND.

As sat one night on the drivers seat of our bull lock-wagon in camp in Africa, a native, named Makata called to me- "Bassi bass l"
 "What is it2" I called back to him.
 1t had been a terribly hot day, and thirst had made the span of oxen hard to control The sum- mer drought had been much protracted, and the water courses were dry. Fortunately, we were within days journey of the Bo-tlet-le river, which runs into Lake Ngami. After the fierce heat of the day, l was enjoying quiet smoke and doing little star-gazing across the wild trackess veldt studded with mimosa thorn scrub and rank grass.
 "Well what is itp" 1 repeated as Mskata ap- preached and squatted on the tongue of the wagon. "Well bass, what would you say to hippopota- mus hunt2 We are within days run of my tribe to theeast ward. Will you come? They will treat you like chief and the hunting is in full season We can rejoin the wagon at Ngami."
 Makata was & full- blooded MakOba, who had come down to the colony with a hunting party, and was was working his way back with us, who where traders. He was thorough hunter like all his nation, and so, after few minutes considera- tion. decided, and said, "Call me an hour before sunrise. 1 will go"
 soon made the necessary arrangements with my partners, and before dawn the next morning the hunter, myself and young Basuto were on our way to the Makoba village.
 The Makoba natives are accustomed from infancy to navigate their fra canoes and heavy rush rafts on this most caprciOus river, the Bo-tlet-le which at one time is like inland pool, and at another is & roaring torrent. Hence they are excellent boat men.
 Their canoes are small affairs about sixteen feet in length and eighteen inches wide. Great skill is required to manage such boat when it is weighted with antelope or is towing dead hippopotamus. When by chance, a canoe gets full of water, the native steps to the extreme end which tips the other end up, and causes the water to flow into the lower end. He then kicks the water out with one foot, his instep and toes serving as a scoop.
 The hunting of the hippopotamus is the main pursuit of this tribe many of whom decorate their houses with the skull of a hippopotamus slain by the owner himself. We found the village in & tur moil over a great hunt that was to take place on the following day. Twas surprised at the methods employed to capture these great brutes, and at first could hardly believe that such means could produce any effective results.
 The night before the hunt the villagers were busily employed in making harpoons For these weapons a stout pole of hard and heavy wood about twelve feet long and three inches in thick ness, serves as shaft. At one end hole is bored and into this hole is slipped the iron head, which is barbed, shaped piece of iron about fool long. This head is attached strongly to the shaf by wrapping of small strands loosely arranged
 If single stout rope were to be used as 6 lash. ing, the mppopotamus would sever it with hi teeth, which, notwithstanding their peculiar for nation, very sharp. The animal, soon as h. feels the wound, snaps at the cords, which becom, entangled among the long, curved teeth and ever other end of the shaft is attached strong rope O palmleaf
 Each boats crew of three carries three harpoons and . larger number of ordinary spears. Tn canoes are not launched in the beginning of tn hunt, but are carried a rude raft made of reeds A quantity of tall reeds are thrown in heap upol the water; upon them more reeds arc throw cro@wise, and the building up of cross-hyers continued until the requisite thickne@ l. attained
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