In the Water 211 



animals can run unless you have seen them. With- 

 out galloping, they trot very quickly with their big, 

 waddling bodies, and get over much ground without 

 seeming to do so. I am sure that an agile man would 

 have difficulty in outrunning them. 



A few days afterwards, however, having noted their 

 position, I construct a barrier in the form of a big 

 net of palm-tree fibre stretched down stream, and kill 

 three of the hippopotami in the water with my 303. 



This form of hunting is very simple ; it only 

 requires a little patience. All you need is a steep 

 bank at the part of the river where hippopotami come 

 up to breathe, and at the side nearer to them from 

 which you can fire down upon them. You hide your- 

 self, and take advantage of the moment all the animals 

 have disappeared to take up your position on the 

 bank, where, by retaining perfect immobility, you will 

 not be seen. To change your place or position, to 

 raise your rifle, or to move in any way, you wait until 

 the hippopotami are under water. When they emerge 

 you carefully select one of them, and aim between the 

 eyes if the animal is facing you, under the eye and on 

 a level with the water if it is in profile, between the 

 two ears and on a level with the water if its back is 

 towards you. The brain is touched with a solid 

 nickel-cased bullet from the 303 ; often even the head 

 is pierced from side to side ; and death is instantane- 

 ous. In this case the animal falls backwards with its 

 mouth open ; its two fore-feet appear ; and a little froth 

 and blood rising to the surface are the only signs to 

 show the place where it lies at the bottom. On the 



