184 LEAVES FROM THE 



slipped through their fingers, however, and instantly 

 made for the river, which it would have gained, if one 

 of the party had not struck the boat-hook into its flank, 

 gafiing it as an angler would a large fish. The mark of 

 this wound it still bears, as above mentioned. 



It soon became much attached to those who had the 

 care of it, treating them as standing in loco 2^ctTentis, 

 and looking to them for the supply of its wants. On its 

 passage in the Eipon steam-ship, whence it was landed 

 at Southampton on the morning of the 25th of May, its 

 keeper's hammock was slung over its berth, as I was 

 told. The poor man must have had but a disturbed 

 time of it, for his fond charge could not bear his absence 

 without showing anxiety bordering on distress ; and at 

 night, as I was informed, would knock up, ever and 

 anon, with his chowder head, as Jack would call it, at 

 the overhanging hammock to ascertain whether his sable 

 friend was there. 



The strong attachment of the animal to its keeper (writes Pro- 

 fessor Owen, in the narrative to which we have ah'eady referred) 

 removed every difficulty in its various transfers from ship to train, 

 and from waggon to its actual abode. On arriving at the Gardens, 

 the Arab who had the charge of it w alked first out of the transport 

 van, with a bag of dates over his shoulder, and the beast trotted 

 after him, now and then lifting up its huge, grotesque muzzle, and 

 sniffing at its favourite dainties, with which it was duly rew^arded 

 on entering its apartment. Wlien I saw the hippopotamus the 

 next morning it was lying on its side in the straw, with its head 

 resting against the chair on which its swarthy attendant sat ; it 

 now and then uttered a soft complacent grunt, and lazily opening 

 its thick, smooth eyelids, leered at its keeper. 



After lying quietly about an hour, now and then raising its head 

 and swivelling its eyeballs towards the keeper, or playfully opening 

 its huge mouth, and threatening to bite the leg of the chair on 

 which its keeper sat, the hippopotamus rose and walked slowly 

 about its room, and then uttered a loud and short harsh note, four 

 or five times in quick succession, reminding one of the snort of a 

 horse, and ending with an explosive sound like a bark. The 

 keeper understood the language, and told us that the animal was 

 expressing its desire to return to its bath, The beast at this time 



