NOISES— SLEEPING PLACES 127 



low lying peninsulae, among the rushes. When passing 

 such resorts in a canoe the men always paddled very 

 quickly, but my experience was that an unmolested 

 hippo showed no resentment at being disturbed, and I 

 never had any trouble and never shot at them. On the 

 approach of the canoe the hippo would gradually sink 

 until only the top of the head, with ears and eyes and the 

 nostrils, were above water, when, in spite of the seeming 

 absurdity, there was a certain horsiness about him ! He 

 would watch the canoe suspiciously until it came too 

 close, and then disappear altogether, when the canoe-men 

 would paddle furiously until we were past what they 

 considered a danger zone. When a frightened hippo 

 comes up to breathe he expires the used up air with only 

 a faint sound, but in the night their loud noises can be 

 heard some miles away, and are probably used as 

 a call. It is impossible to describe the noise, neither 

 snorting nor grunting are completely descriptive ; it can 

 be imitated by making a noise at the back of the throat 

 while indrawing a breath. 



These calls at night have a fascination all their own ; 

 sometimes, however, could be heard other much louder and 

 less pleasing noises that seemed to indicate a battle royal, 

 perhaps between rival suitors. 



Hippos have regular sleeping places in the forest or 

 bush on the islands, from which they may sometimes be 

 disturbed in the day time. 



On Kimmi Island, when with Fiske one day, I heard 

 him say, " Well, isn't this just cunning," and, coming up, 

 found hm looking at the sleeping places of a mother and 

 baby hippo, where could plainly be seen the imprint of 

 head, body and legs on the dead leaves, showing how they 

 had slept side by side. The little rocky, bush covered 

 islet Rumfua, of! the south coast of Kome Isle, was 

 evidently a favourite dormitory, for there were several bed 

 places among the thick bushes and ferns ; since there 



