THE STORY OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



203 



water, and drinks so copiously that the peas in its stomach, being fully 

 saturated, swell so much as soon afterwards to cause his death. Among 

 the Kaffirs in the south of Africa the hippopotamus is sometimes caught by 

 means of pits. 



THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



The gait of this animal, when undisturbed, is generally so slow and 

 cautious that it often smells out the snare, and avoids it. The most cer- 

 tain method is to watch at night, behind a bush close to its path, and strike 

 it in the knee joints with a sword. 



