CHAPTER XVII. 



HIPPOPOTAMUS-SHOOTING. 



T 



HE hippo is a gregarious animal. In 

 its native home, the rivers and lakes 

 of Africa, the name of hippopotamus, 

 i.e. " river-horse," given to it by an- 

 cient naturalists, is eminently suitable, as it 

 usually shows only a narrow bit of its huge 

 head. A line, drawn from the ears to the 

 nostrils, would indicate the portion the hippo 

 exposes above the surface of the water. In 

 uninhabited regions the hippo is not only a 

 perfectly harmless, but, according to science, 

 a useful animal, designed by Nature to keep 

 down the over - abundant river - vegetation. 

 Where, however, the hippo crosses the path 

 of civilisation, it becomes a nuisance and a 

 menace, and it is sure to be exterminated. 



My first acquaintance with hippos was on 

 the Zambesi and Shire rivers. As long as 

 we travelled on the stern-wheel steamer, a sort of large- 

 sized raft, the hippos caused us no trouble, but wisely 

 allowed us to pass unmolested. On the Upper Shire river 

 we had to travel, two and two, in a boat with a sort of 

 dog-kennel at the stern. In this kennel, the two adventurous 

 travellers were expected to find during the day shelter from 

 the broiling sun, and at night the solace of sweet refreshing 

 sleep, in spite of the miasmatic emanations of the river and 

 the countless swarms of mosquitoes. When to these attrac- 

 tions the hippo adds unexpectedly his appearance on the 

 scene, and, as very nearly happened to one of our boats, 

 threatens to capsize the boat and to throw the occupants into 



SOUDANESE SOLDIER 



WITH THE FAJAO 



PADDLE. 



