NOTE-BOOK OF, A NATURALIST. 181 



Sparrman and Mr. Gumming are conspicuous among 

 those who have recorded the habits of the hippopotamus 

 in a state of nature. The latter, in his wikl and won- 

 derful book, most graphically describes them. 



Look on this scene : — 



When the sun went clown the sea-cows commenced a march 

 up the river. They passed along oj)posite to my camp, 

 making the most extraordinary sounds — blowing, snorting, and 

 roaring, sometimes crashing through the reeds, and sometimes 

 swimming gently, and splashing and sporting through the water. 

 There being a little moonlight, I went down with my man Carey, 

 and sat some time on the riyer's bank contemplating these wonderful 

 monsters of the river. It was a truly grand and very extraordinary 

 scene ; the opposite bank of the stream was clad with trees of 

 gigantic size and great beauty, which added greatly to the interest 

 of the picture. — Vol. ii. p. 167. 



And again, at p. 171 : — 



At every turn there occurred deep still pools, with occasional 

 sandy islands densely clad mth lofty reeds, and with banks 

 covered with reeds to a breadth of thirty yards. Above and 

 beyond these reeds stood trees of immense age and gigantic size, 

 beneath which grew a long and very rank description of grass, on 

 which the sea-cow delights to pasture. I soon found fresh spoor,* 

 and after holding on for several miles, just as the sun was going 

 down, and as I entered a dense reed cover, I came upon the fresh 

 lairs of four hippopotami. They had been lying sleeping on the 

 margin of the river, and, on hearing me come crackling through 

 the reeds, had plunged into deep water. I at once ascertained 

 that they were newly started, for the froth and bubbles were still 

 on the spot where they had plunged in. Next moment I heard 

 them blowing a little way down the river. I then headed them, 

 and with considerable difficulty, o\'\ing to the cover and the reeds, 

 I at length came right down above where they were standing. It 

 was a broad part of the river, with a sandy bottom, and the water 

 came half way up their sides. There were four of them, three 

 cows and an old bull ; they stood in the middle of the river, and, 

 though alarmed, did not appear aware of the extent of the im- 

 pending danger. 



It would be unjust to this painter with a pen to 

 omit the following grand picture, or to present it in any 



* Tracks. 



