THE MONARCH OF AFRICAN WATERS. 153 



5. His mother, seeing the distress of her child, imme- 

 diately went back into the water, and, diving down, 

 brought him up from the bottom. She then supported 

 his head above the water, in order to give him time to 

 breathe. For nearly half an hour Mr. Bartlett and the 

 keepers were in agonies. Of course, they dared not go to 

 help Guy Fawkes, and there was no form of life-buoy 

 they could throw to the struggling creature. At last the 

 young one made a more vigorous effort than ever, when 

 simultaneously the old one gave him a push with her tre- 

 mendous head, and the little animal's life was thus saved. 

 So we see that the hippopotamus is no fool ; her instinct 

 mind, rather told her how to save her young one. 



6. This little animal is about the size and shape of an 

 ordinary bacon-pig, but the color is something of a pinkish- 

 slate. He knows his keeper very well ; and, when he has 

 had his dinner, is as playful as a kitten, popping and jump- 

 ing about his den, and throwing up mouthfuls of hay like 

 a young calf. When first born, he was small enough to 

 come through the bars on to the straw outside his den, 

 but soon he had grown so much that he could not get 

 through. He used to put his head through the bars, and 

 allow Prescott, the keeper, to rub his gums. 



7. I now proceed to make some general remarks about 

 hippopotami. The hippopotamus is of some value com- 

 mercially. The skin is made by the natives into whips, 

 which, I believe, are used to beat delinquents in Egypt ; 

 and I am told that they are exceedingly formidable weap- 

 ons. To make the whip, the skin is cut into slips, about live 

 or six feet long, one end being pointed, the other broad ; 

 it is then coiled upon itself, and afterward dried in the 

 sun ; and, when finished, is light, dry, and elastic. The 

 teeth of the hippopotamus are also of commercial value. 



8. Their structure is very peculiar. I have a tooth 



