THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 189 



banks of the shallow rivers of its native land. It attains to 

 ten or eleven feet in length, and to five feet, or more, in 

 height, being the next largest animal to the rhinoceros and 

 the elephant. He is a powerful beast and has been known 

 to attack and capsize boats, though when hunted he usually 

 sinks to the bottom of the river where he is able to remain 

 five or six minutes without rising to the surface for breath. 

 The form of his head enables him to lift his eyes and his nostrils 

 above the water at the same time without exposing more than 

 a slight portion of his head. Thus, while taking in breath 

 to sustain him while out of the reach of his enemies, he can 

 watch their movements and determine his course below. His 

 hide is very thick and strong and is, therefore, very useful 

 for a variety of purposes, while his tusks furnish the dentist 

 with the material to supply human deficiencies. 

 The Haunt Mr. Gordon Gumming gives the following 



of the vivid description of the haunt of the Hippopotami. 

 Hippopotami. The next day j rode down the ^^ tQ geek 



sea-cows, taking as usual my double-barrelled rifles. We had 

 proceeded about two miles when we came upon some most 

 thoroughly beaten, old established hippopotamus paths, and 

 presently, in a broad, long, deep, and shaded pool of the 

 river, we heard the sea-cows bellowing. There I beheld 

 one of the most wondrous and interesting sights that a 

 sportsman can be blessed with. I at once knew that there 

 must be an immense herd of them, for the voices came from 

 the different parts of the pool; so creeping in through the 

 bushes to obtain an inspection, a large sandy Island 

 appeared at the neck of the pool, on which stood several 

 large shady trees. The neck of the pool was very wide and 

 shallow, with rocks and large stones ; below, it was deep and 

 still. On a sandy promontory of this Island stood about 

 thirty cows and calves, whilst in the pool opposite, and a 

 little below them, stood about twenty more sea-cows, with 

 their heads and backs above water. About fifty yards further 



