HUNTING THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



241 



HOPPOPOTAM US. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



HUNTING THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



N the 17th of June, says Mr. Cum 

 ming, having found a good drift 

 I crossed the Limpopo with my 

 wagons, and drew them up in a 

 gre'en and shady spot. I then rode a long way 

 down the eastern bank in quest of hippopo- 

 tami, and late in the vening I found one, 

 which I did not molest, trusting to find hiri 

 the next day. 



On the 18th a dense mist hung over the 

 river all the'moining. Ordering the wagons to follow in an hour, 

 I rode ahead to soak the sea-cow of the previous night, hut after a 

 long search I gave it up as a bad job, and, kindling a fire to warm 

 myself, awaited the wagons, which presently came up. Here I 

 halted for two hours, and then once more rode ahead to seek hip- 

 popotami. The river became more promising for sea-cows. At 

 every turn there occurred deep, still pools, with occasional sandy 

 islands densely clad with lofty reeds, and with banks covered with 

 reeds to a breadth of thirty yards. Above and beyond these reeds 

 stood trees of immense age and gigantic size, beneath which grew 

 a long and very rank description of grass, on which the sea-cow 

 delights to pasture. 



1 soun found fresh spoor, and after holding on for several 



