HIPPOPOTAMUS, OR ZEEKOE.—Hippopétumus amphibius. 
life, it takes its stand on its mother’s neck, and is borne by her above or through the water 
as experience may dictate or necessity require. 
There are various modes of hunting this mischievous but valuable animal, each of which 
is in vogue in its own particular region. The pitfalls above mentioned are universal 
throughout the whole Hippopotamus country, and 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 consists of a log of wood, weighted 
heavily at one end, to which extremity is loosely fixed a spear-head well treated with 
poison. This terrible log is suspended over some Hippopotamus path, and is kept in its 
place by a slight cord which crosses 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 poisoned spear deep into the poor beast’s back, and speedily killing it 
by the poison, if not from the immediate effects of the wound. 
The white hunter of course employs his rifle and finds that the huge animal affords 
no easy mark, as unless it is hit in a mortal spot it dives below the surface and makes 
good its escape. Mortal spots, moreover, are not easy to find, or when found, 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 surface to breathe, it only 
just pushes its nostrils above the surface, takes in the required amount of air, and sinks 
back again to the river bed. Moreover, it will often be so extremely wary, that it will 
not protrude even its mouth in the open water, and looks out for some reeds or floating 
substances which may cover its movements while breathing. As a general rule, it is 
found that the most deadly wound that can be given to a Hippopotamus is on the nose, 
for the animal is then unable to remain below the surface, and consequently presents an 
easy mark to the hunter. A heavy ball just below the shoulder always gives a mortal 
wound, and in default of such a mark being presented, the eye or the ear is a good place 
to aim at. 
