The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-09
HOW HIPPoPorAu ARE HURRIED
Perils Attending zinirg the Mammoth
Crsarures-


the hippopotamus herd, says a writer in
the London Herald, and could hear the
sound Of their blowing in every direction.
I found it rather tiresone TO lie stin within
easy shot OF the game, for it IS the practice
of the natives not 70 give chase 70 any par
ticular animal, but 70 wait until one OF
them comes Close 70 tos raft.
Peering through the rushes. side by side
with Makata, could see the huge head Of
hippopotamus as i; swan near US Only
the eyes, ears and nose could be seen. These
parts were Of bright scarlst, quite unlike
the dull, leaden hue which these parts as
sumo in captivity.
As we neared the swimming animal
Makata rose on one knee. When he gripped
his harpoon he tremblei with excitement
had been told 70 remain perfectly still and
70 do only what my native companion told
me to do. Seguiui, the brother, noise
lessly cooled the harpoon rope 50 that 1t
would run'o out easily.
The most perfect quiet was observed. as
even splash or q strange, sudden shadow
would scare the herd and Put it TO flight,
and our chance would be lost for the day
When at last the br tie was so near that
could almost have touched him, Aakata
and hurled the harpoon. As he did so he
made a Kissing sound as If be were groom
ing horse. With q dull thud the heavy
spear senk into the neck of the brute and
quivered with the force that had driven it
home.
TowED BY A HIPPOPOTAMUs.
Stung by the strange and unexpected
| pain the animal gave q convulsive spring,
| shook from the rude socket the head Of the
harpoon, which still rem3ined attached 70
the shaft by its nany-stranded rope and
dashed down stream at full speed, Seq
uini paid out the line rapidly. while MakaIa
| and sprang into the canoe and continued
to pay it out as he followed U.s. But as he
took his seat he held the line taut. and the
hippopotamus drew the canoe from of the
raft Of rushes and towed it along as if it
were cork
1t was like whaling on small scale.
Now and again, rs our speed became too
great, or the hippoptamus made a sudden
turn 70 the left or right, the rope was paid
| out or hauled in. Our object was TO tire
the monster out sufficiently TO be able to
steer or drive it into shallow water.
Our party of three squatted in frail
craft, which apparently was not large
enough to carry boy, Seguini sat In the
bow, his whole attention directed TO the
rope, and between his knees rested heavy
| bladed, keen-edge knife; l sat amidship,
with rifle across my knees, and the water
washed my finger tips as gripped the gun
vale. Ia the stern stood Makata, with the
paddle in his hand aud harpoon at his
feet. His face was ablaze with excitement,
aad he looked like an avenging demon.
A noise up stream attracted our attention
and we saw another hippopotamus with a
canoe towing behind it.
fake care!" shouted our steersman
you will run foul of US. Steady, Seguini,
steady! wait till l give the word-now,
then-cutr'
AS he spoke the infuriated brute made
straight at US, opea-mouthed. Seguini
severed the rope attached 70 our animal at
at one cut. and, with deft turn Of his pad
die, Makata shot the light canoe sixty feet
from the threatening beast. Our course
was still in the direction of our wounded
animal, above whose back foated and
swung the harpoon shaft held by the fine
strands to the iron head buried in his neck
THE BEHEMoTH AT BAY.
Clumsy as the hiRpopotami appear, they
swim with astonishing rapidity, and it was
only after a long chass that our light boat
caught up with it. At Makata's direction
passed the harpool to Seguini, who stood
up in the bow with one foot slightly raised,
and the spear poised above his head.
"Sling your rifle on your back, boss
said he; "nis strength is failing, and when
he feels the iron he may dash at the
| canoe"
As / secured my rife we ran alongside
the hippopotamu;, and Seguini deity
| placed the harpoon almost side by side with
the other one. The brute turned round and
| came at the boat. Makata seized spear
and thrust it deep into his throat. Then in
| a fash the boat was overturned and we
| were laundering in the water.
"Dive, boss, divel" said voice, and !
obeyed as we'll as was able.
" hen l came up found Makata by nv
side, ready to help me if necessary. Seq
| uini was pear the shore carrying the ropes
| end in his teeth, and the hippopoIamus was
| engaged in rending the frail canoe Had
l not dived the beast might have wreaked
| his vengeance on me instead of on the boat.
| But he does not follow his enemies beneath
| the surface, and the natives, in case of an
upset, dive and hang on to roots and gras:
| to keep themselves under until he begins tc
break up the boat.
1t was not easy to swim with the heavy
rife on my back. 1 felt it gradually drag
| me down, and in my struggle 10 get it clear
l unfortunately attracted the brute's atten-
ton.
Swim boss!n shouted Makata. and he
also called to his brother to make haste to
| get on shore.
There was no chance to escape by speed.
but swan steadily along and had not gone
a score OF yards before Makata shppeI
back behind me, and, taking the spear from
his mouth, prepared to meet the enraged
giant in his Lative element.
PURSUED IN THE WATER.
must own that had been badly scared
since the upset, but as soon as l saw the
| plucky black drop behind to cover nv re
treat LOST my nervousness, aud, turning
round, began to tread water and to watch
the strange fight.
The beast swan rapidly on, with his
head level with the water, until he was
within ten feet of the black. Then ht
opened his terrible mouth aud made straight
for him. Carefully timing his movement.
Makata suddenly sank below the surface
and in another second a terrific plunge and
and an angry snort from the hippop0tamus
showed that the blacks spear had baen
| driven home
AS soon as Makata's head reappeared the
brute made for him again, and, to my hor
ror, saw that the blacks spear was bro ker
off at the head.
My feet touched something in the water
and the next moment / was standing on
the submerged trunk Of a tree that was
slowly drifting down with the current
Twice l slipped from its Shiny surface, ant
twice regained my footing. Then my foot
rested upon the fork of bough which CAV
me footing.