THE HIPPOPOTAMI 1035 



learn caution in these respects when much persecuted. A peculiarity of the hippo- 

 potamus is that when swimming in the water and about to dive, it gradually sub- 

 sides by slowly sinking the hind-quarters and afterward the rest of the body, instead 

 of sinking down headforemost. When on a high bank and suddenly frightened, it 

 will not, however, hesitate to precipitate itself headlong into the water. 



As the giraffe may be regarded as the most characteristic and striking animal 

 in an African desert landscape, so the hippopotamus forms the most distinctive liv- 

 ing feature in a river scene; and nothing can be more impressive than to come sud- 

 denly upon a herd of these gigantic animals on the margin of some unfrequented 

 lake or river. Such a scene is graphically described by Mr. Selous, who writes that 

 on one occasion his companion and himself, after making their way through a thick 

 bush jungle, suddenly emerged upon a river bank. "Upon a spit of white sand 

 which jutted into the pool from the opposite bank, stood, high and dry, a herd of 

 at least twenty hippopotami, their huge, bulky carcasses looking, as they stood all 

 huddled together, like so many black rocks. ' ' After mentioning that a water buck 

 standing on the further shore soon took alarm, Mr. Selous continues that the hippo- 

 potami, " though we were in full view and only about two hundred and fifty yards 

 from them, did not seem to notice us, but stood quite motionless and apparently 

 asleep, except that now and then one would move his enormous head slowly to 

 the one side or the other. ... At length they heard us talking, and com- 

 menced, one after the other, to walk into the river. When their bodies were half 

 immersed they let themselves down with a splash, and either swam into deep water 

 with just the tips of their heads out, or dived out of sight at once; I suppose there 

 must have been a ledge beside which the water deepened suddenly. There were 

 some quite small calves among them, and these little beasts all ran into the water 

 with a splash, while the full-grown animals stepped in slowly and sedately." 

 Similar testimony as to the ease with which hippopotami may be approached in 

 undisturbed districts is afforded by Sir J. Willoughby in East Africa. When 

 stealthily punting on a raft toward a small herd, this writer observes that the hip- 

 popotami, ' ' did not seem to mind our approach in the least degree, but continued 

 to enjoy themselves by puffing and snorting and blowing water in jets from their 

 nostrils, and now and again sinking down, to reappear at the end of two or three 

 minutes, and, with their heads half out of the water, to take a look round. When 

 we were within thirty yards, they ceased their gambols to gaze with astonishment 

 at what I suppose was the first attempt to navigate these waters." 



On the White Nile Sir S. Baker states that during the dry season he has seen 

 a bend of the river so crowded with hippopotami, that it seemed impossible that 

 his steamer would be able to make its way without coming into collision with some 

 of the monsters. All, however, managed to steer clear of the path of the vessel, 

 which passed through a perfect crowd of snorting and blowing heads. 



Regarding the general habits and haunts of the hippopotamus, Dr. Livingstone 

 states, that on the Chobe and other large rivers, the banks are marked by numerous 

 furrows made by these animals in ascending during the night to graze on the herb- 

 age of the adjacent lands; and he adds that as they are guided back to these paths 

 solely by scent, if a heavy rain comes on during their nocturnal excursions they are 



