306 



THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



are seen, and the deep furrows they make in ascending the banks 

 to graze during the nights, are everywhere apparent. They are 

 guided back to the water by the scent, but a long-continued pour- 

 ing rain makes it impossible for them to perceive, by that means, 

 in which direction the river Hes, and they are found bewildered 

 on the land. The hunters take advantage of their helplessness 



on these occasions to kill them. 

 It is impossible to judge of the 

 numbers in a herd, for they are 

 almost always hidden beneath 

 the waters ; but as they require 

 to come up every few minutes to 

 breathe, when there is a con- 

 stant succession of heads thrown up then the herd is supposed 

 to be large. They love a still reach of the stream, as in the more 

 rapid parts of the channel they are floated down so quickly that 

 much exertion is necessary to regain the distance lost by fre- 

 quently swimming up again : such constant exertion disturbs 

 them in their nap. They prefer to remain by day in a drowsy. 



