showing that he had returned, I thought he might have gone 
off to some fresh-water pool he knew of in the bush, and this 
‘I was anxious to find, as being a likely spot to attract other 
game. 
As it was, I came to the conclusion that he was merely 
changing his quarters, and this supposition was confirmed by 
his reappearance in the creek a day or two afterwards. 
Hippo-shooting, compared with other sport, is poor. In 
the first place it depends more on accuracy of aim and pro- 
ficiency in quick shooting than on stalking. To crawl up 
to the edge of a high bank, probably several feet above the 
surface of the water, in which a school of these huge beasts 
is lying basking in the sun on the shallows, requires little 
skill provided the wind is fair. Neither is a steady pot 
_ shot at a range of 25 yards, at a well-defined mark such as 
__ the beast’s eye and ear, or in a line between the two, as he lies 
_ perfectly still, half out of the water and possibly asleep, or float- 
_ ing quite motionless on the top of the water, a great test of 
__ prowessin shooting. When once scared, however, the conditions 
_ are changed, as hippos then become very cunning and take 
' a great deal of circumventing, and will test the sportsman’s 
patience as well as the accuracy and quickness of his aim to the 
_ utmost. If they have not been much shot at or disturbed, they 
_ will show up again in a few minutes after the first shot. After 
_ this first shot the sportsman should not be in a hurry to fire 
"at the first head that appears above water, but should wait 
"patiently, concealed from their view if possible, and let them 
3 settle down again, as they soon will do, when they will keep 
_ their heads above water for some considerable time, gazing 
_ round to try and detect the cause of their fright. 
_ It is reckless firing, utterly regardless of the position of the 
beast’s head, that is the cause of so many of these poor brutes 
being wounded and lost,when by the exercise of a little patience 
the sportsman would be able to pick out a good head, get 
another steady shot, and kill his beast clean. 
__ My friend, Mr. A. H. Newmann, who is well known both 
. 
Sige ee THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 27 
. 
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