Tin: IIIIM'Ol'OTAMLS. 



swimmer nnd diver, and is able to remain below tlic surfaee for a very considcr- 

 al)le lenf^th of time. In eonunon witli the Klej)liant, it possesses tlic power of 

 siiikiu'' Tt will, whicii is the more extraortlinarv when the huge size of the animal is 

 taken '^into consideration. Perhaps it may be enabled to coiitnict itself by an 

 exertion of the nmscles whenever it desires to sink, and to return to its former 

 dimensions when it wishes to return to the surface. It mostly aflects the stillest 

 reaches of the river, as it is less exposed to the current, and not so liable to be 

 swept <U)wn the stream while asleep. The younj: ni|)po|K)tanms is not able to 

 bear submersion so loiit^ as its parent, and is therefore carefully brought to the 

 surface at short intervals for the pui-]M)se of breathinj;. 



There Jire various modts of huntiiif; this mischievous but valuable animal, each 

 of which is in vo-^ue in its own particular rc«;ion. 'I'Ijc pitfalls above mentioned 

 are univei-sal throujihout the whole Ilii)pojK)tamus country, nnd lure many an 

 animal to its destruction without needing any care or superintendence on the part 

 of the men who set the snare. There is also the " down-fall," a trap which con- 

 sists of n lop of wood, weighed heavily at one end, to which extremity is loosely 

 fixed a spear-hcad well treated with poison. This terrible log is suspended over 

 some llippopotanuis path, and is kept in its place by a slight cord which cnxsses 

 the path and is connected with a catch or trigger. As soon as the animal presses 

 the cord, the catch is liberated, and down comes the armed log. striking the 

 |)oisoned spear deep into the poor beast's back, and speedily killing it by th 

 poison, if not from tlie immediate effects of the wound. 



The white hunter of course employs his rifle and finds tliat the huge aninu.l 

 affords no ea.sy mark, as mdess it is hit in a mortal spot it dives below the sur- 

 face and makes good its escape. Mortal spots, moreover, arc not easy to find, or 

 when foimd, to hit; for the animal soon gets cunning after it has been alarmed, 

 and remains deeply immersed in the water as long as it is able, and when it at 

 last comes to the sinface to breathe, it only just pushes its nostrils nbove thj 

 surface, takes in the required amount of air. and sinks back again to tho river bed. 

 Moreover, it will often be so extremely waiy, that it will not protrude even its 

 mouth in the open water, and looks out f\)r some reeds or floating s\d)stances 

 which may cover its movements while breathing. As a general rule it is foimd 

 that the most deadly wound that can be given to a Ilijjpopotamus is on the nose, 

 for tlie animal is then unable to remain i)elow the surface, and consecjuently pre- 

 sents an easy mark to the hunter. A heavy bull just below the shoulder always 

 gives a mortal wound, and in defaidt of such a mark being ])rescnted, the eye or 

 the car is a goo«l place to aim at. 



iu^ 



