Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



the edge of the lake formed a re-entering bend, with 

 high marshy reeds growing far out into the water, 

 while the bank was low-lying and protected by tall 

 elephant grass. A novice would have been able 

 to detect that this was the objective for which the 

 beasts were making, so I took up my position m 

 close proximity and concealed myself behind a stone. 

 The three hippopotamus continued their approach 

 in single file, with about thirty yards between each. 

 Their method of progression was by bobbing down 

 and swimming under water for some time and then 

 coming to the surface again to vent. They can 

 perform fairly long distances at a time swimming 

 below in that manner. Five minutes between vents 

 is, I believe, as much as they are supposed to co, 

 although the time appeared to me nearer double 

 that. They sw^im at a very fast rate, especially 

 after being shot at, and a very few dives will take 

 them out of range when alarmed by the report of 

 the rifle. 



Presently I saw that the original three were the 

 advance scouts of a large herd of hippopotamus. 

 They advanced very cautiously, and tried my 

 patience exceedingly. Occasionally they w^ould stop 

 altogether, floating on the top of the water and 

 throwing a huge jet of spray into the air. By 

 degrees the more venturesome approached nearer 

 the shore, followed by the remainder, and very 

 soon they were all collected together just below my 

 coign of vantage, although they made not the least 

 attempt to come out of the water. 



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