132 THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



amongst the animals of this species individuals bearing 

 the traces of considerable wounds. It frequently hap- 

 pens, indeed, that they fight furiously. A traveller was 

 witness to a duel between two males, which he records 

 thus : 



"It was broad day; and, hidden on the river bank, 

 I had been watching for some time the gambols of 

 a herd of these animals, when all of a sudden two of 

 the largest rose to the surface, and rushed at each 

 other. Their great and hideous jaws were extended 

 wide open, their eyes flaming with rage, each one 

 seeming bent on the destruction of his enemy. They 

 seized each other with their jaws ; they stabbed and 

 punched with their strong tusks by turns advancing 

 and retreating, now at the top of the water and some- 

 times at the bottom of the river. The waves were 

 stained with their blood, and their furious roars were 

 frightful to listen to. They showed very little tact in 

 their movements, but on the other hand they exhibited 

 piggish obstinacy in maintaining their ground, and 

 frightful savageness in their demeanour. The combat 

 lasted for an hour. Evidently they were mutually ope- 

 rating upon armour too hard to admit of their wounds 

 being very dangerous. At last one of them turned his 

 back on his enemy and went away, leaving the other 

 victorious and master of the field of battle." 



