CHAPTER VIII 



ELEPHANT AND HIPPOPOTAMUS 



Next morning I arose early, by starlight in fact, and 

 after breakfast proceeded to give out blankets and shirts 

 to the boys. During the day I went down to the river or 

 marsh, and after going along the bank for a mile or so I 

 came close on a hippopotamus with its huge snout on the 

 surface of the water. I aimed at the nostril, but 

 apparently only succeeded in tickling the beast, as it 

 simply disappeared beneath the water and presently 

 dashed up the bank into the tall grass opposite. How- 

 ever, later on I brought down a line old cow with the 

 •450. She stood out on a spit about forty yards off. 

 I gave her the right and left barrels, down she went, and 

 in less than ten minutes a delighted chattering mob of 

 porters and Shinzis were engaged in cutting up the meat. 

 The cook was soon on the scene with tins in which to 

 collect the fat. I did not taste the flesh, but the fat was 

 most excellent, and is useful in many ways. 



Hippopotamus, " Kiboko " in Swahili, abound in the 

 upper White Nile. They have peculiar little slits of eyes 

 like nostrils placed close together. Their ears are small 

 and erect. They are vicious beasts and will attack 

 canoes in the water, even if unmolested. 



Next day two messengers came in to report that a 

 large herd of elephant were travelling down towards the 

 south, some two hours away from the camp. I set out 

 at once with a few of the boys and provisions for a few 

 days. Travelling lightlv enabled us to make considerable 



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