THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



the upper Nile and its tributary branches. It is, how- 

 ever, not restricted to these, lor it is marine as well as 

 fluviatile ; and Dr. Smith thinks it difficult to decide 

 whether it gives preference to the river or the sea for its 

 abode during the day. When the opportunity of ciioosing 

 the sea or the river existed, he found that some selected 

 the one, and some the other. 



Scarcely, if at all, inferior to the elephant in bulk, but 

 much lower in stature from the shortness of the limbs, 

 this massive animal presents us with the " ne plus ultra" 

 of uncouth clumsiness and heavy solidity. Its body, like 

 an enormous barrel supported on four thick pillars, 

 almost touches the ground ; the head is ponderous ; the 

 muzzle is swollen ; and the great thick lips, studded with 

 wire-like bristles, entirely conceal the projecting incisors 

 of the lower jaw, and the huge curved tusks or canines ; 

 the mouth is wdde ; the nostrils open on the top of the 

 swollen muzzle; and the eyes, which are very small, are 

 situated high on the head ; hence, when in the water, 

 the animal by raising merely a small upper section of the 

 head above the surface can both look around and breathe, 

 the body remaining submerged. The ears are small and 

 pointed ; the tail is short, and furnished with a few wiry 

 bristles. The toes, four on each foot, are tipped with 

 small hoofs. The hide is naked, coarse, and of great 

 thickness, being two inches deep or more on the back 

 and sides. It is made into shields, whips, walking-sticks, 

 &c. The whips known in Egypt under the name of 

 korbadj are made of its skin, and form an important 

 article of trade with the Sennaar and Darfour caravans. 

 " After being taken off, the skin is cut into narrow strips, 

 five or six feet long, and gradually tapering to a point ; 

 each strip is then rolled up so that the edges unite and 

 form a pipe, in which state they are tied fast, and left to 

 dry in the sun. To render them pliable, they must be 

 rubbed with butter or grease. In Egypt, where they 

 are in general use, and the dread of every servant and 

 peasant, they cost from half a dollar to a dollar each. 

 In colder climates, even in Syria, they become brittle, 

 crack, and lose their elasticity." 



R 2 



