46 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



new abode. An animal belated on his feeding-ground a 

 long way from his usual day haunt would seek the nearest 

 suitable pool until nightfall. On the Transvaal Sabi, 

 where, though not numerous, the beasts are very tame, 

 they are not infrequently to be seen wandering about, 

 Or resting on one or other of the shady islands which 

 abound in mid-stream. 



The food consists of young shoots, grasses and reeds. 

 The hippopotamus does not grub for roots or eat fruit. 

 It is capable of doing great damage to cultivated lands, 

 not only by actually eating the crops, but by the manner 

 ;n which it tramples down and destroys things. Con- 

 sequently its conduct in this respect causes a great deal 

 of complaint, and, where protected by law, natives and 

 others often seek the easiest means of prevention by 

 applying to have the erring animals killed incidentally 

 looking forward to a big feed of good meat and a plentiful 

 supply of the valuable hide and fat. 



As a matter of fact, the lowest fence, provided that it 

 is solid and upright, will always stop a hippo. Like a 

 pig, he never attempts to step over an obstacle, and does 

 not push through an impediment which he recognizes as 

 artificial. Natives of many tribes in Africa are so 

 naturally indolent that they prefer to risk any loss rather 

 than take a little trouble to prevent its occurrence. 

 Therefore, the so-called fences often seen intervening 

 between crops planted close to the water's edge, and the 

 water itself, positively invite attack, in that they consist 

 merely of a few thorn bushes or branches laid on the 

 ground, often not even touching each other. That, 

 under such circumstances, the crops suffer can hardly 

 afford cause for surprise. Among the few African peoples 

 who do go to the trouble of constructing strong obstacles 

 the losses appear to be trifling. 



