136 THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



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at worst with a ducking. Sometiriies, nevertheless, 

 the pachydermatous brute returns in a fury, and 

 destroys the capsized boat. 



VII. 



WE have said that in its nocturnal movements the 

 hippopotamus constantly follows the same path. The 

 hunters profit by the custom, and this is the way they 

 take them hi the Soudan : 



Two of the party stand near the path, in the most 

 likely spot ; they are armed with lances, with a hook 

 at the end like a fish hook, to which is attached a cord 

 eight or ten yards long, at the other end of which is 

 a wooden float ; others go in front of the animal where 

 he feeds. They frighten him by shouting, beating 

 drums, and brandishing lighted torches. The alarmed 

 hippopotamus returns to the river, and the nearest 

 hunter throws his barbed javelin into his flanks. The 

 wounded animal carries the dart into the water, and 

 the very rapidity with which he flies contributes to 

 increase his wound by the resistance of the float. 



This piece of wood, which floats on the surface, also 

 enables the hunter to watch the evolutions which the 

 amphibious animal performs under the water. Never- 

 theless, it sometimes happens that it is difficult to 

 follow it in the night-time. To overcome this incon- 



