44 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



which, consisting of a deep channel, bordered on one 

 side by extensive reed areas, and on the other by 

 grassy wooded banks, are by their nature well suited 

 to the habits of the animals. In all probability, little 

 has occurred to disturb them since that date in those 

 unget-at-able places. 



South of the Zambezi hippopotami are still found in 

 suitable localities in Southern Rhodesia, though to the 

 west and south-west shooting and the desiccation of the 

 country have greatly restricted their range. On the 

 Limpopo and Olifants Rivers, both in British and Portu- 

 guese territories, there are still considerable numbers. 

 Near the junction of the latter with the Letaba, when, at 

 certain seasons of the year, the rivers are full and pools 

 adjacent to the banks frequent, there may be seen a really 

 astonishing collection of these animals. During the dry 

 season they seem to go down in search of deeper water, 

 and, getting into Portuguese territory, suffer to some 

 extent from native attacks. The parallel rivers Sabi, 

 Crocodile, Komati, Lomati, Usutu, and Pongola are all 

 well stocked. On the Komati, near the boundary, a 

 herd of over twenty has been carefully preserved for the 

 last twelve years, and they have become so tame that 

 belated passengers, meeting them ashore of an evening, 

 find that, so far from giving place to human beings, they 

 desire to assert their right to the path. 



In the numerous pans of Amatongaland, near the 

 Pongola, there are great numbers of hippos which are 

 partially protected by a 10 licence, and this forms very 

 nearly the most southerly point at which the species 

 now exists. Some seven years ago more than twenty 

 of them in the largest of these pools the Ebumbe Pan 

 died within a few days from some unexplained cause. 

 A veterinary officer was sent down to investigate, but 



