The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-14
THE RIVER HORSE.
How tho Natives Get Away with tho Pom
derOus IIippopotnmus.

| How tho Natives Get Away with tho Pom
dcrous Hippopotamus.
One of the circus companies now
travelling in this country is in the habit
during the performance of turning its
immense hippopotamus out of it's cage
and the unwicldy animal follows it's
master around the hippodromc track
with as much docility as pet dog
could exhibit 1t is evident that in cap
tivity the hippopotamus is any thing but
n fcrocious animal, and the story that
the late Capt. Francois the Congo trav-
clcr, told of him us he splashes about in
his native waters and suns himself on
the sand banks indicates that the hip
popotamus, though not beautiful
beast, still has his lovable traits. Won
Francois was German explorer whose
observations for attitudes and geo.
graphical positions in the part of the
Congo basin he visited were long the
most reliable data of that sort the map
makers could get.
II am not sorry" he said, 'that I
have not taken part in hippopotamus
hunts. 1T seems n pity without any
good reason to shoot these harmless
beasts rs they huddlc together on the
sand banks. These animals are al
most incredibly innocent and unsus-
picious. and they seldom take the trou-
bic to move when they see Il hunting
canoe approaching. Though great mum
bers of them have been shot, the idea
that the hunting canoes bring danger
never seems to dawn upon them. I'm
less some restriction he soon placed
upon the hunting of the hippopotami
in those waters the great beasts will
become so scarce as to be curositics
there. 1t is to be hoped that the Congo
State will soon give its attention to this
matter. The evil would not be 50 c:cat
If better use were made Of the skin of
the animals. Their valuable hides are
seldom taken, and their bones. which
might serve Il variety of useful pur-
poses, are left to bleach on the shores.
Often, too, the river affords grave for
the unfortunate animals.
The prediction of this explorer seems
rapidly to be coming true. Letters
from Lcopoldvillc this year say that
the hppopotamus hunters have now to
travel many miles for their prey, which
was formerly found in great numbers
within easy reach OF the station.
Won Froncois described Il half savage.
half comic occurrence on the tppcr
Congo that illustrates the remarkable
fondness of the natives of that rcgion
for animal food. While he was steam
ing up the river one day Mr.. Grcnfcll
shot hippopotamus, and the crew drew
the huge animal on shore to cut il up.
They had not been engaged in this
work more than five minutes before
they We're surrounded by a great crowd
of natives who watched the operation
with the llccncst interest The tongue
and best parts OF the flesh were re-
served for the steamboat; hands, who
then left the animal and rave the ma
tiveS Il chance.
With upliftcd knives the crowd rushed
upon the remains and began to slash
away on all sides Scores OF the ma
tivcs could not get near the body, and
they began to push and pull their more
fortunate comrades with frantic ca
gerncss. Those whose knives were
within reach of the coveted flesh knew
good thing when they had it, and
they did not propose to yield an inch OF
ground. They would slash away for n
minute. then stop TO fight the rear
guard off, and then renew the cutting
up process. The pushing, struggling,
bowling mob made quite an exciting
scene. Then the unfortunatcs in the
rear, unable by dint of muscle to gain
access to the creature, gathered hand
fuls of sand, which they showcrcd over
the hippopotamus butchers cndeavor-
ing to blind them.
So the battle went on until finally
those who were nearest the carcass
rolled it over and over into the water
until it was entirely submerged. From
this vantage ground they continued the
work of cutting up the animal under
water until every scrap that was edible
was secured. This means that there
was very little left but the skeleton, for
the average Congo native is not at all
particular. lie even cuts up the thick
hide of the river horse into small bits
and, after boiling it long time. man.
ages to swallow it with great apparent
delight. -Chicago Tribune