Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-05
A Critical Situation.

which is not very serviceable weapon in
! the hunting-feld. its power of penetration
being insufficient for big game The sting
of the bullet tended only to infuriate the
animal; he threw himself wildly out of the
water and plunged about IN all directions.
A few of my paddlers kept cool, but most
| of them, not accustomed to this kind of
| thing, dropped their paddles and chung
wildly to the gunwale Of the canoe; some
were screaming, while those who retained
their paddles endeavored to force the canoe
In direction opposite my intended des-
tination. All this commotion rendered it
very difficult for me to take a shot with
any certainty of aim, 50 that, although
kept hitting the brute, could not sue
coed In reaching a vital part, and each
successive bullet that rendered the monster
only the more furious. At last he caught
sight of rs. and seemed, all at once, to
recognize that we we're his enemies. He
came on, blowing his way through the
water, and struck my canoe blow which,
nearly capsizing it, threw several of my
men into the water. Fortunately, he did
not follow them up, but, passing under the
canoe, kept plunging madly on for a short
distance. In the meantime had managed
to pick up the men from the water,-iust
IN time, for he returned and made another
charge.
As he passed for a second time under
the canoe, my hunter, Bongo Nsanda, dex-
teroustly plunged spear into him, which,
striking in the side seemed to cripple him
greatly He was now becoming exhausted,
and his movements became slower and
slower. Each time he rose to the surface
he presented a pitiable sight, with the
blood streaming from many wounds. |
was now able, by a well-directed shot be-
behind the ear, to end the poor brute's
sutferings, and after a few spasmodic
struggles he sank from sight, leaving the
water all around us discolored with his
blood. A hippopotamus sinks; the body
does not rise for several hours, the duration
OF submersion depending on the tempera-
ture of the water. knowing this, |
waited patiently on the bank of the river,
and after three hours saw my game rise
slowly to the surface.
The inhabitants of the surrounding
village, was attracted by the firing of my
rifle, had manned their large war-canoes
There must have been at least fifty of Them
each canoe filled with armed warriors.
managed only to get my hippopotamus in
shallow water then these people surround
ed me. | noticed that they come prepared
for quarrel each being armed with a
spear and knife. They thought to in
timidate me by their formidable strength.
Some of the holder even jumped out of
their canoes, danced wildly around the
hippopotamus, brandishing their knives,
and invited the others to come ON and cut
up the meat, saying: 1.-The white man
has no right to this meat. Hippopotamus
belongs to us. He killed it in our district.
His men can have small share, but he
cannot expect to come and shoot our game
and take all away with him"
Now, if they had simply asked me for a
portion of the meat, | would willingly
have acceded to their request; but, in at
tempting to brighten me by display of force
they are pursuing an entirely wrong
course. | Immediately called of my men,
ougbly trusted, and gave them orders to
load.
Fortunately, on the sand bank where
had beached my canoe were several little
clumps of grass, and an old tree or two
that had been washed ashore. Taking
advantage of this cover, placed my men
in safety. | then walked forward, and
explained to the excited natives of Mbunga
that | came there as a friend, | did not
wish any trouble, but that the hippopota-
mus belonged to nobody till he was dead;
now, as | have shot him, consider him
mine. Moreover, l was going to do what
! liked with him. | would keep him all.
is | close, or | would sink him in the
river. I should be guided in the matter
by my own will only, and if they thought
they were strong enough to take him
invited them to make the trial Said I:
''These men Of mine are armed with the
same weupon with which | killed that
animal. You have not such thick hide
as he has, so | advise you to quickly re-
treat. " At first my speech only incensed
them, for some headstrong, fiery young
men Immediately proposed to take the
meat from me by force. One even went
so far as to jump out of his canoe and
make for the hippopotamus; but l covered
him SO promptly with my rife that he
saw [ meant what | said. Slackening his
pace, his cOuntenance, which at first de.
noted only savage arrogance, now assumed
a look of intense fear, and, dropped his
knife down by his side, he skulked back to
his canoe.
The chief, Ndombe, who had been made
my blood-brother, happened to be in one of
the canoes, so | called him by name,
and said was surprised by the treatment
| was receiving at the hands of his fol-
lowers. Also, advised him to speak with
the people and to explain to them the
folly Of any hostiles demonstrations. All
the canoes were then brought together,
and the Mbunga natives appeared to have
decided among themselves, that white
mans powder and shot might lend con-
vincing force to his arguments, for they
fastened to tell me that I was in the right.
l then informed them that had no inten-
tion of taking all the meat with me. Il
was not greedy; wanted some of the
meat for my men, but myself should de-
eide how much,
"Now," said I, ''Ndombe, you are my
blood brother. I shall give you one leg for
yourself and village. The remainder of
the half | shall distribute among these
people, but not one man is to cut up a
piece of the meat. My own men shall do
that My gun is loaded, and what say,
mean. | shall sit here, and if one of your
men attempt to cut the meat without my
permission. l shall consider it the COM
mencement of hostilities, and shall shoot
him down." This bit of bounce on my
part had the desired effect. They kept at
respectful distance until had cut up as
much of the animal as | wanted | did
not take even half; | left them quite three
quarters. When | called them and handed
them their share, they were delighted Ny
speech and show of fearlessness hada very
good effect. We parted the best of friends,
and | left this savage crowd to fight among
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