A Hippo Shot. 73 



Early in December I heard from a native that there were 

 some hippo in the Bua, near Pinda's village, about twelve 

 miles off, so on the 4th of that month I got a few men and 

 went off to try to find them. 



As I made a very early start, I reached Pinda's about 

 10.30 a.m., and the native who had told me of the hippo, a 

 man named Mankanga, went off with a tew of the villagers 

 to try to locate the animals, and I sat smoking and watch- 

 ing the natives at their daily tasks of pounding flour, making 

 baskets, attending to their children, and other duties. 



Soon Mankanga came back and told me there was a big 

 hippo in a pool only a few hundred yards away, so I took 

 my rifle and cartridge bag and followed him. 



There was an anthill about fifteen yards from the bank, 

 surrounded by papyrus and grass, and a few bushes grew out 

 of this anthill forming good cover, so I got Mankanga to 

 carry me through the water and mud to the place. 



On getting on the top of the anthill, I soon saw the 

 reddish brown head of the hippo in the middle of the deep 

 pool, so I tried to get my ygmm. solid bullet under his ear, 

 as he was nearly full side on. 



The bullet hit with that distinct crack that is often 

 heard when a heavy-boned animal is struck fairly in 

 the head, and this sound is unlike the soft "phut" of a 

 bullet hitting a thin-skinned beast behind the shoulder. 



I made a bad shot, however, for I saw by the way the 

 hippo sank that he was not killed, as he splashed a good 

 deal. When a hippo is killed in the water he usually sinks 

 quietly without making any splash or commotion. 



My bullet must have caused the poor beast great pain, for 

 it immediately began to make the most extraordinary 

 contortions, coming up and going down, and swimming in 

 circles. Every time it came round 1 waited for the shot at 

 the back of its head, and hit it four times out of five 

 shots, one bullet going just over, as I was not quite quick 

 enough. The sixth shot found the exact spot, and, as I 

 have shot a good number of hippo in the past, I knew I 

 had killed him, as he quietly disappeared beneath the surface. 



