Year: 1868


the Me Tributaries Of AbssyRia, Sir
William Baker an English traveller, gives
the following graphic description of the
habits Of the aquatic monster called the
river horse, and Of the killing of one of the
largest Of the species:


"After walking about two miles, we
noticed a herd Of hippopotami in pool
below q rapid this was surrounded by
rock, except upon one side where the rush
Of water had thrown up bahk of pebbles
a.d sand Our old Neptune did not con-
descend to bestow the slightest attention
when ! pointed out these animals; they
were too wide awake but he Immediately
quilted the rivers bed, and we followed
him quietly behind the fringe of bushes
upon the border, from which we carefully
examined the water About half a mile
below this spot, az we clambered over the
intervening rocks through a gorge which
formed a powerful rapid, observed in
pool inst below the rapid an immense head
Of a hippopotamus close to a perpendicular
rock that formed a wall to the river about
six feet above the surface. | pointed out
the hippo to old Abou Do, who had not
seen IL. At once the gravity Of the old
Arab disappeared, and the energy of the
hunter was exhibited as he motiOned us to
remain, while he ran nimbly behind the
thick screen Of bushes for about hundred
and fifty yards below the spot where the
hippo was unconsciousIy basking, with his
ugly head above the snrface Pluuging
into the rapid torrent, the veteran hunter
was carried some distance down the stream,
bat breastng the powerful current he landed
upon the rocks on the opposite side, and
retiring some distance from the river. he
quickly advanced toward the spot beneath
which the hippopotamus was lying. had
a fine view OF the scene, as | was living con-
cesled exactly opposite the hippo, which
had now disappeared beneath the water.
Abou Do stealthily approached the edge of
the rock, beneath which he had expected TO
see the head Of the animal; his long
sinewy arm was raised, with the harpoon
ready TO strike, as he carefully advanced.
At length he reached the edge of the per-
pendicular rock; the hippo had vanished,
but far from exhibiting surprise. the old
Arab remained standingon the sharp ledge,
unchanged in attitude. No figure Of bronze
could have been more rigid than that of
the old river king, as he stood erect upon
the rock with the left foot advanced and
the harpoon poised in his ready right hand
above his head, while in the left he held
the loose coils Of rope attached TO the am-
batch buoy. For about three minutes he
stood like statue, gazing intently into the
clear and deep water beneath his feet.
watched eagerly for the temperance Of the
hippo; the surface OF the water was still
barren, when suddenly the right arm ofthe
statue descended like lightning. and the
harpoon shot perpendicularly into the pool
with the speed of an arrow. What river
6end answered TO the summons? Ia an
instant an enormous pair Of open jaws APP
peared, followed by the ungainly head and
form of the furious hippopotamus, that,
springing half ont Of the water, lashed the
river into foam, and disdaining the con-
cealment of the deep pool, charged straight
up the violent rapids With extraordinary
power he breasted the descending stream
gaining a footing in the rapids, about five
feet deep, he plowed his way against the
broken waves sending them in showers Of
spray upon all sides, and upon gaining
broader shadows he tore along through the
water with the buoyant float hopping be-
hind him along the surface, until he landed
from the river, started at full gallop aleng
the dry shingly bed and at length disap-
peared in the thorny nabbuk Jungle.


The old man plunged into the deep pocl
Just quilted by the hippo, and landed upon
our side; while in the enthusiasm of the
moment raised nv cap above my head,
and gave HIM a British cheer as he reached
the shore. His usually stern features re-
laxed into a grim smile of delight. This
was one Of those moments when the
gratified pride Of the hunter rewards him
for any risks. ! congratulated him upon
his dexterity but much remained to be
done. | proposed to cross the river and TO
follow the tracks of the hippopotamus, as |
imagined that the buoy and rope would
catch in the thick jungle, and that we
should find him entangled in the bush
but the old hunter gently laid his hand
upon my arm and pointed up the bed of
the river, explaining that the hippo would
certainly return to the water after a short
interval


In a few minutes later at a distance of
nearly half a mile, we observed the hippo
emerge from the jungle and ascend at full
trot to the bed Of the river, making direct
for the first rocky pool in which we had
noticed the herd of hippopotami.


Upon reaching the pool, which was about
a hundred and thirty yards in diameter,
We were Immediately greeted by the hippo,
which snorted and reared as we approached,
but quickly diyed, and the buoyant float
ran along the surface; directing his course
in the manner As the cork Of a trimmer
with pike upon the hook. Several times
he appeared, but as he invariably faced us,
! could not obtain favorable shot. | there
fore sent the old hunter round the pool,
and he, swimming the river, advanced to
the opposite side and attracted the atten-
ton Of the hippo causing him TO immedi-
aiely turn toward him. This afforded me
a good chance, and fired a steady shot be-
hind the ear, at about seventy yards, with
singled barreled rifle. Az usual with the
hppopotami, whether dead or alive, he
disappeared beneath the water at the shot
The crack of the ball and the absence Of
any splash from the ballet told me that he
was hit the ambatoh float remained per
ieclly stationary upon the surface. ]
watched il for some minutes; il never
moved Several heads OF hippopotami ap-
peared and vanished Indifferent directions,
bat the float WAS still il marked the spot
where the grand old bull lay dead beneath.


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