54 



EASTERN ETHIOPIA iv 



Many of the large rivers and lakes of the Ethiopian 

 Region are inhabited by the hippopotamus. This huge 

 pig is the largest mammal which lives in fresh water, 

 as the sperm whale is the biggest mammal known to 

 live in salt water. It is by no means difficult to shoot, 

 and this form of sport is as devoid of danger as 

 pigeon shooting. The natives endeavour to hunt the 

 hippopotamus with the harpoon. The method appears 

 to be this : 



The harpoon is a piece of barbed iron with a cord 

 and wooden float attached. The line traverses a hollow 

 handle made of bamboo several feet long. When 

 ready for use, the harpoon is drawn up to the end of 

 the hollow handle by means of the line attached to it. 

 The wily native conceals himself along the track used 

 by the hippopotamus, and as the animal passes it 

 receives a forcible thrust which fixes the harpoon in 

 the thick hide. The wounded beast rushes into the 

 water, but the hollow handle is retained in the hands of 

 the hunter, and the line runs along it ; the float 

 attached to it indicates the position of the animal, 

 which immediately seeks refuge in deep water. The 

 second part of the hunt is performed in the water. 

 The hunters -go out in boats, and, on finding the float, 

 await the harpooned beast as it rises from the depths. 

 When the hippopotamus comes to the surface and opens 

 his enormous mouth to seize the boat and overturn it, 

 the hunters inflict serious damage, especially on the 

 animal's nose, with their spears. In this way, as the 

 result of repeated attacks, the animal succumbs, and 

 forms the material for a native debauch. 



It does not necessarily follow when a hunter implants 

 a harpoon into a hippopotamus that he secures the 

 object of his ambition. The line may break, and the 

 iron which enters the animal's body may fail to entail 

 its destruction. I have had an opportunity of 

 examining an iron harpoon, removed from the body of 

 a hippopotamus, which had been thrust into its 



