xii THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 251 



sions the immense creature will roll over, belly uppermost, and the 

 frantic kicking of its short legs, and its convulsive struggles, will 

 raise an extraordinary commotion in the water ; until at length 

 this amphibious creature drowns, through a long-continued immer- 

 sion during a state of unconsciousness. I have very often killed 

 them in this manner with a heavy rifle, that has crushed the 

 cranium; and upon one occasion the '577 bullet performed unex- 

 pectedly with the same result, although the skull of the animal 

 was only slightly split, and the bullet remained wedged and shape- 

 less in the crevice. The hippo, after rolling helplessly for several 

 minutes, sank to the bottom, reappearing upon the surface a couple 

 of hours later. The skull of this female hippopotamus is in my 

 possession, showing the position of the bullet, which remains fixed 

 upon the bone. 



It would be a natural conclusion that the hippopotamus, which 

 is a pugnacious creature, would occasionally attack the crocodile ; 

 but although these reptiles are in great numbers, I have never 

 heard of such a conflict. At the same time, I have seen dead 

 hippopotami that have remained a couple of hours under water 

 after the fatal shot ; these were scored in many places by the sharp 

 teeth of crocodiles, which had vainly attempted to make an aper- 

 ture. I have observed the large heads of these creatures floating 

 upon the surface, in attendance upon the tempting carcase, proving 

 that, should an opportunity offer, they were ready to snatch a 

 mouthful of a beast, when dead, which they feared to attack when 

 living. 



There is a probability that the calves of hippopotami may occa- 

 sionally be carried off by crocodiles, but this must remain an open 

 question, as it cannot be proved by an eye-witness, and, in such a 

 case, the attacking party would certainly be charged by the 

 desperate mother. 



A young calf hippopotamus is delicious eating. The feet, when 

 stewed, are far superior to those of any other animal, and the skin 

 makes excellent turtle soup. The fresh hide of a full-grown hippo, 

 if cut into small pieces, soaked in vinegar for an hour, and then 

 boiled, so closely resembles turtle that it would be difficult to dis- 

 tinguish the difference. The flesh of this animal is always palat- 

 able ; and although that of an old bull is tough, it can always be 

 successfully treated, by pounding and beating it upon a flat stone 

 until the fibre is totally destroyed. If this is mixed with chopped 

 onions, pepper, and salt, and wild thyme, it will form either rissoles 

 or cotelettes de veau, by a pleasing transformation of the old bull. 



As the female hippopotamus generally produces one calf at a 



