212 After Big Game in Central Africa 



other hand, if it rolls over, and its four feet beat the 

 water, the swirl indicates its position, and it reappears 

 several times, agitating the surface. Owing to the 

 difficulty of shooting with accuracy amid these con- 

 ditions, several bullets will be needed to kill it. Once 

 dead, the animal sinks to the bottom, but the disten- 

 sion of the intestines gradually raises it to the surface 

 in three to six hours, 1 according to the temperature 

 of the water. As soon as it begins to rise, the 

 current carries it away, and in deep rivers the hunter 

 loses his quarry. That is why I place very broad 

 nets made of palm-tree fibre, with stones and floats 

 attached, across the river down stream, these restrain- 

 ing the body when it drifts. 



Blacks are very fond of hippopotamus flesh, which 

 they prefer next to that of the buffalo. All these 

 dried meats are very much alike. In the opinion of 

 Europeans they are only fit for improving soupe, they 

 do not supplant fresh meat ; but native hunters re- 

 cognise very well by the taste of biltong the various 

 animals which have been used in its manufacture. 

 I distinguish the various kinds almost as well as my 

 men, but it is by their density. As a matter of fact, 

 these meats, when well dried, are quite different in 

 weight, this doubtless arising from their more or less 

 close fibres and the proportions of water which they 

 contain. The lightest is that of the elephant ; the 

 water -buck, reed -buck, and sable antelope come 

 next ; then, in smaller proportion, the rhinoceros, 



1 A slightly less average than given in Mes Grandes Chasses, but 

 which experience of recent years has shown me to be correct. 



