494 POOD FLESH HIDE TEETH. 



For the information of the curious in these matters, I may 

 mention that the food of the larger of the hippopotami now 

 in the Regent's Park Gardens, when first shipped at Alexan- 

 dria in 1850, and when yet comparatively a "baby," con- 

 sisted of the milk of two cows and three goats. This quan- 

 tity, however, until supplemented with Indian corn-meal, was 

 found insufficient to satisfy his voracity. On his arrival at 

 the gardens, " oatmeal wa,s substituted for Indian corn ; and 

 the change, with an extra supply of milk, seemed to give the 

 gigantic infant great satisfaction." By degrees, vegetable diet 

 was supplied instead of milk ; and at the present day the 

 animal is fed on clover, hay, corn, chaff, bran, mangle-wur- 

 zel, carrots, and white cabbage. The three last-named vege- 

 tables constitute his most favorite food. On this (1 cwt. be- 

 ing his daily allowance) he thrives wonderfully, a proof of 

 which is, that since his arrival (he then weighed about one 

 thousand pounds) he has increased more than a ton in weight. 



The flesh of the hippopotamus is highly esteemed, and 

 with justice, for it is very palatable. The tongue is reck- 

 oned a delicacy, and the fat (" speck," as it is termed by the 

 colonists) is very excellent, and forms a capital substitute for 

 butter. In general, both flesh and fat of wild animals have 

 a peculiar and often strong flavor, but that of the hippopot- 

 amus is an exception. • 



The hide is also in much request, and forms no mean arti- 

 cle of commerce in the Cape Colony. As already mentioned, 

 it is chiefly converted into " shamboks." In Northern Afri- 

 ca the hide is used as whips for the dromedary, as also for 

 punishing refractory servants. The ancient Egyptians em- 

 ployed it largely in the manufacture of shields, helmets, jave- 

 lins, &c. 



But the most valuable part of the hippopotamus is its 

 teeth (canine and incisors), which are considered greatly su- 

 perior to elephant ivory, and when perfect, and weighty — 

 say from five to eight pounds each — have been known to 



