152 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



looked about her. I made a correct shot ; the ball crack- 

 ed loudly below her ear, and the huge body of the sea- 

 cow came floundering to the top. I was enchanted ; 

 she could not escape. Though not dead, she had lost 

 her senses, and continued swimming round and round, 

 sometimes beneath and sometimes at the surface of the 

 water, creating a fearful commotion. 



Hearing my wagons coming on, I sent a message to 

 my followers to outspan, and to come and behold Be- 

 hemoth floundering in her native element. When they 

 came up I finished her with a shot in the neck, upon 

 which she instantly sank to the bottom, and disappear- 

 ed in the strong rapid torrent at the tail of the sea- 

 cow hole. There she remained for a long time, and I 

 thought that I had lost her, but the natives said that 

 she would soon reappear. Being in want of refresh- 

 ment, I left my people to watch for the resurrection of 

 Behemoth, and I held to the wagons to feed. While 

 taking my breakfast, there was a loud hue and cry 

 among the natives that the kooboo had floated and was 

 sailing down the river. It was so, and my Hotten- 

 tots swam in and brought her to the bank. Her flesh 

 proved most excellent. In the afternoon I rode down 

 the river accompanied by Ruyter, and shot one very 

 splendid old water-buck, with a princely head, which 

 I kej)t. 



The next day, after proceeding a few miles, I killed 

 a very fine buck of the serolomootlooque. I again rode 

 down the river's bank, with two after-riders, to seek 

 hippopotami, the natives reporting that they were to 

 be found in a pool in advance, wher-'. another river join- 

 ed the Limpopo. After riding a shurt distance, I found 

 the banks unusually green and shady, and very much 

 frequented by the sea-cow ; and presently, in a broad, 



