Lake Victoria to Khartoum 



For the best part of eight years I've lived 

 amongst many of the different untamed denizens 

 of these African wilds, and have thought I've 

 known their habits and customs ; nevertheless, I 

 have not yet succeeded in arriving at the bottom 

 of their extraordinary proclivities. 



They will go on saying "I know!" till 

 kingdom come, whilst you will go on believing 

 them! 



Well, the real wind-up of this hippo episode 

 was on the day following the above remarks ; 

 and it gave me no reason to alter a single word 

 of what I have said about savages. 



News came in from the men who had been 

 sent rushing off at early dawn to look out for the 

 floating carcase — enemy — that they had found his 

 body, and, what was more, had retrieved him, 

 and that he was hard and fast to the bank — 

 defeated with heavy loss. On this being sworn 

 to with many " billahis," spears thrown on the 

 ground, and hands raised in the air, I thought it 

 was good enough to go and visit the scene — of 

 the decisive battle. 



And it was a scene ! Talk about savages, 

 hyenas weren't in it with them ! 



Although the teeth of the monster were to be 

 cut out for me, as was quietly explained by the 

 chief and universally accepted with loud acclama- 

 tions, within five short minutes the whole bloom- 

 ing tribe were hacking, hewing, cutting, howling, 



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