THE GREAT THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS 173 



African whip used on oxen and natives alike. It may be well to men- 

 tion here that the ox is the draft animal universally used, as the dread 

 tsetse fly which is found in many sections, is deadly to horses and 

 almost as bad for mules. Oxen, however, seem to be more nearly 

 imnmne. In Uganda, however, even the ox is barred out, and natives 

 as porters are the only carriers possible. 



A Duel. — A traveler was witness to a duel between two male 

 hippopotami which he records thus : 



"It was broad day; and, hidden on the river bank, I had been 

 watching for some time the gambols of a herd of these animals, when 

 all of a sudden two of the largest rose to the surface and rushed at each 

 other. Their great hideous jaws were extended wide open, their eyes 

 flaming with rage, each one seeming bent on the destruction of his 

 enemy. They seized each other with their jaws; they stabbed and 

 punched with their strong tusks, by turns advancing and retreating, 

 now at the top of the water and sometimes at the bottom of the river. 

 The foam-beaten waves were stained with their blood, and their 

 furious roars were frightful to listen to. They showed very little tact 

 in their movements, but on the other hand they exhibited piggish 

 obstinacy in maintaining their ground, and frightful savageness in 

 their demeanor. The combat lasted for an hour. Evidently they were 

 mutually operating upon armor too hard to admit of their wounds 

 being very dangerous. At last one of them turned his back on his 

 enemy and went away, leaving the other victorious and master of the 

 field of battle." 



The Zebra. — Still following the family of pachyderms, we come 

 to the zebra. This curious animal might be called a cousin of the 

 jackass so nearly alike is it in shape and general characteristics. It 

 stands about four feet high at the shoulder and eight feet long. In 

 shape it is light and symmetrical, with slender legs and small feet 

 terminating in a solid hoof. The head is light and bony with ass-like 

 ears. The tail is blackish and tufted at the end. Here, however, the 

 resemblance to the above-mentioned animal ceases. The ground 

 color of the hair is white, and the whole body, with the exception of 

 the under side of the belly and the inside of the thighs, is covered with 

 narrow black bands placed wider or closer together. The mane is 



