NOTE-BOOK OF A NATUEALIST. 63 



sounded extremely quick, and is not nnlike the neighing 

 of a horse. Others describe the sound as more resem- 

 bling the bellowing of a buffalo than the neighing of a 

 horse — at least, just before death. Some call it snorting, 

 some neighing, and others again grunting ; and it has 

 been likened to the deep creaking of a very heavy gate 

 or door on its hinges. 



Neither of these similes conveys the idea of anything 

 very melodious, but there can be no doubt that this clumsy 

 creature has some music in his soul. 



Major Denham relates, that during the excursion to 

 Munga and the Gambarou the party encamped on the 

 borders of a lake frequented by hippopotami, and intended 

 to shoot some of the huge inmates. A violent thunder- 

 storm prevented their sport ; but next morning they had 

 a full opportunity of convincing themselves that these un- 

 couth animals are not only not insensible to musical 

 sounds, but strongly attracted to them, as seals are said 

 to be, even though the music should not possess the soft- 

 ness and sweetness of the Lydian measure. As the major 

 and his suite passed along the borders of the Lake Mug- 

 gaby at sunrise, the hippopotami followed the drums of 

 the different chiefs the whole length of the water, some- 

 times approaching so close to the shore that the water 

 they spouted from their mouths reached the persons who 

 wei'e passing along the banks. Major Denham counted 

 fifteen at one time sporting on the surface; and his ser- 

 vant Columbus shot one of them in the head, when he 

 gave so loud a roar as he buried himself in the lake that 

 all the others disappeared in an instant. 



But whatever may be thought of the snortings and 

 neighings of this See-i^ferd, all agree that it deserves the 

 more appetizing name of Wasser oclis, when the sapid 

 excellence of its flesh is considered. The Sea-coiu's speck, 

 in other words, the layer of fat which lies immediately 

 below the skin, salted and dried, is highly prized by the 



