134 THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



peculiar manner, and we saw the hippopotamus first 

 plunge, and then make a sudden spring almost out 

 of the water, exhibiting the body, even to the hind 

 legs. They explained to us that this was a family of 

 hippopotami, which was taking its promenade in the 

 river, and that the mother, believing her young ones 

 were attacked by the boats, had thus elevated herself 

 above the water to see her enemies, and if needful to 

 defend herself." 



Here is another picture, taken from the banks of 

 the Kafoue, which is rich in hippopotami : 



"In the ignorance of firearms in which they live, 

 these hippopotami are so little timid that they pay 

 not the least attention to us ; the young ones, not 

 much larger than turnspits, and mounted on their 

 mothers' necks, look at us between their ears, and do 

 not appear in the least disturbed by our presence. " 



This is the case most frequently ; here, however, is 

 a slight variation : 



" About mid-day a hippopotamus struck against 

 the front of our canoe, and almost capsized it. The 

 force of the blow precipitated Mashaouana into the 

 river; the rest, of whom I was one, made for the 

 shore, which was about fifteen yards off. The hippo- 

 potamus remained on the surface of the water, looking 

 curiously at the canoe, as if forming an estimate of 

 the amount of damage she had done. It was a 



