-*> The Hippopotamus 



stream unless there be sand-banks, not too far below the 

 spot where you see them, or else shallow rapids, upon 

 which the bodies carried down sideways may be stranded ; 

 otherwise the animals would be carried right away and 

 lost to the hunter. Therefore I raised my rifle and began 

 to fire, remaining well hidden all the time. When my 

 men arrived about half an hour later I had killed about 



HIPPOPOTAMUSES AT HOME 



fifteen crocodiles, and could have killed at least ten more 

 had I been better provided with ammunition. 



The speed to which " kiboko " is able to attain on 

 land is as surprising as that of the rhinoceros and the 

 elephant, and seems incongruous with its unwieldy shape. 

 Twice only have I seen hippopotamuses take to flight on 

 land. Each time I was astonished by their activity. 

 Once also I was very hard pressed by a hippopotamus 

 in these circumstances, and only just escaped with my 

 life. I had encountered the animal on land towards 

 evening. Contrary to my expectation, after receiving a 



275 



