THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 271 



showing that he had returned, I thought he might have gone 

 off to some fresh-water pool he knew of in the bush, and this 

 I was anxious to find, as being a likely spot to attract other 

 game. 



As it was, I came to the conclusion that he was merely 

 changing his quarters, and this supposition was confirmed by 

 his reappearance in the creek a day or two afterwards. 



Hippo-shooting, compared with other sport, is poor. In 

 the first place it depends more on accuracy of aim and pro- 

 ficiency in quick shooting than on stalking. To crawl up 

 to the edge of a high bank, probably several feet above the 

 surface of the water, in which a school of these huge beasts 

 is lying basking in the sun on the shallows, requires little 

 skill provided the wind is fair. Neither is a steady pot 

 shot at a range of 25 yards, at a well-defined mark such as 

 the beast's eye and ear, or in a line between the two, as he lies 

 perfectly still, half out of the water and possibly asleep, or float- 

 ing quite motionless on the top of the water, a great test of 

 prowess in shooting. When once scared, however, the conditions 

 are changed, as hippos then become very cunning and take 

 a great deal of circumventing, and will test the sportsman's 

 patience as well as the accuracy and quickness of his aim to the 

 utmost. If they have not been much shot at or disturbed, they 

 will show up again in a few minutes after the first shot. After 

 this first shot the sportsman should not be in a hurry to fire 

 at the first head that appears above water, but should wait 

 patiently, concealed from their view if possible, and let them 

 settle down again, as they soon will do, when they will keep 

 their heads above water for some considerable time, gazing 

 round to try and detect the cause of their fright. 



It is reckless firing, utterly regardless of the position of the 

 beast's head, that is the cause of so many of these poor brutes 

 being wounded and lost, when by the exercise of a little patience 

 the sportsman would be able to pick out a good head, get 

 another steady shot, and kill his beast clean. 



My friend, Mr. A. H. Newmann, who is weJl known both 



