263 THE GAME OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



HIPPO. 



Native Names. 



Swaliili (Zanzibar) . . Kiboko. Kinyika Mfu. 



Swahili (Mombasa) . . Boko. Ogick (Ravine) Magauta. 



Kikuyu Nguo. Masai 01-makau. 



Kavirondo Rau (Reyu (?). Luc^anda Emviibu. 



The hippo is usually a shy, and, at the same time, a very inquisitive animal. 



Tusks. — I have seen no good tusks from East Africa other than from the Lake or Tana 

 River. In its other East African haunts it runs small and is very careful to keep out of danger, 

 no doubt because it has been much peppered. In Uganda and on the Nile good specimens are 

 occasionally obtained. 



Abnormal Tusks. — The longest tusks are always abnormal tusks, viz., tusks which, by some 

 mischance, do not play upon the tusks opposite, and so have no wear and tear to check their 

 growths. I measured an abnormal tusk of this sort which it was said came from Uganda. It 

 measured 54^ inches on the outside curve, and formed a complete circle and a half. On the 

 Nile these animals are very dangerous to canoes, frequent cases occurring of them upsetting these 

 craft, and occasionally mauling the occupants. For this reason they are not protected in the locality. 

 Very probably the reason that they are so dangerous about there is that they are continually 

 being hunted and harassed by the natives the whole length of the Bahr al Gebel. Even a genial 

 animal like the hippo must get bored in time with continually having arrow-heads, harpoons, 

 spears, and native bullets launched at him. 



Hippo Fat. — Hippo fat is excellent for cooking purposes, and as dubbing for boots or leather, 

 likewise as a substitute for rifle-oil. When procured for cooking, care should be taken that the fat 

 is cut out and boiled down as soon as possible after the body of the hippo has come to the surface. 

 Shooting hippo is usually a most uninteresting and unsatisfactory pastime. It is generally 

 necessary to go in a canoe to get near them, as they are usually found in places where are miles 

 of marsh and sudd between the shore and water. The heads bobbing up and down make difficult 

 marks, whilst the unsteadiness of the canoe often precludes accurate shooting. As this is the 

 case there is not much interest in pursuing them once you have obtained a specimen or two. 

 They are interesting and, as a rule, inoffensive animals if left alone and not worried. 



The tongue, salted and cooked, makes an excellent dish. 



For boots, in wet weather, the fat should be mixed and boiled down with beeswax. 



Hippos have a peculiar way of leaving their droppings scattered about on bushes. The 

 Swahilis explain this by saying that it is the result of a quarrel with the bird tipi-tipi, about 

 which they have a story. I have often wondered how the dung is so scattered and why so often 

 found at such a height above the ground. Mr. Jackson tells me that the reason is that the 

 animal during process vibrates its tail rapidly, which suffices to send the droppings flying in 

 different directions. 



The hippo is found almost everywhere in East Africa and Uganda where there is a river of 

 any size or a swamp. I have seen these animals or their spoor in the following places : — 



The Tana River, near its mouth, higher up, and where it is called the Kililuma, and also 

 where it is called the Sagana. 



Thika, Ziba, and Namindi Rivers. 



