140 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



adjacent to a very deep and broad stream, into which 

 their foot-paths led in every direction. 



I was first apprised of my proximity to them by a 

 loud cry from one old bull, who took alarm at the sud- 

 den flight of a species of heron ; his cry was not unlike 

 that of an elephant. He stood in water which reached 

 halfway up his side, shaking his short ears in the sun; 

 every half minute he disappeared beneath the water, 

 when, again parading half of his body, he uttered a 

 loud snorting, blowing noise. On observing him, I dis- 

 mounted, and every time he disappeared I ran in, un- 

 til I stood behind the tall reeds within twenty yards of 

 him. Here I might have dropped him with a single 

 ball, but I unfortunately made up my mind not to mo- 

 lest them until next day, when I should have men to 

 assist me to get them out. Presently he observed me, 

 when he dived, and swam rouncf a shady promontory 

 into the deep stream, where he and his comrades kept 

 up a continual loud blowing noise. I returned to camp, 

 and, having ordered my men to inspan, I tried a drift 

 on horseback, and crossed the Limpopo, but, the water 

 coming over my saddle, I did not attempt to bring 

 through my wagons. We accordingly held on our 

 course on the northwestern bank of the river, and out- 

 spanned about a mile above the place where I had 

 found the hippopotami. 



When the sun went down the sea-cows commenced 

 a march up the river. They passed along opposite to 

 my camp, making the most extraordinary sound:* - 

 blowing, snorting, and roaring, sometimes crashing 

 through the reeds, and sometimes swimming g''ntly, 

 and splashing and sporting through the water. There 

 being a little moonlight, I went down with my man 

 Carey, and sat some time on the river's bank contem. 



