XXI HIPPOPOTAMUS-SHOOTING 459 



right in front of the head with a lo-bore bullet. 

 In an instant every head had disappeared, and in a 

 few moments the bubbling waters had subsided, 

 and every ripple on the surface ot the pool was 

 gone. However, we knew they must come up 

 again, and so prepared to receive them ; Jameson 

 guarded the top of the pool, and I ran down to the 

 lower end, and whenever a head appeared one or 

 other of us saluted it with a bullet. For some time 

 the fun was fast and furious, and before very long 

 it became evident that there were very few sea-cows 

 left to shoot at. The herd had originally consisted 

 of seven — a large bull, four cows, and two half- 

 grown calves. Now, however, the bull and three 

 of the cows were dead, the fourth was wounded, 

 and the two calves alone remained unscathed to tell 

 of the dire destruction that had been worked upon 

 their family. About mid-day the two first killed 

 floated to the top of the water, and a little later on 

 the other two also came to the surface. I may here 

 say that a hippopotamus when killed sinks to the 

 bottom and the carcase does not rise to the surface 

 before from three to six hours have elapsed : in 

 cold weather, and if the animal be in poor condition, 

 he will often remain at the bottom for a much 

 longer period. The old bull was in very poor 

 condition, but the cows were excessively fat ; indeed, 

 when the skin was stripped off in large squares, 

 their whole bodies were covered with a layer of 

 white fat from shoulder to rump, from half an inch 

 to two inches in thickness. The old cow that was 

 still alive was now excessively shy, and only offered 

 very bad chances for a shot, as she stopped from 

 five to ten minutes under water at a time, and when 

 she came up to blow, only exposed a small portion 



