HIPPOPOTAMUS SHOOTING. 257 



rapidity with which such an unwieldy-looking creature 

 can spring to its feet, the pace it can go, and the very 

 quick way it can turn, beating some say in this respect 

 a horse. 



On seeing the malformed maarifFs head in Vivian's 

 collection, Coke at once recognised it as one of an old 

 friend he had unsuccessfully stalked five miles beyond 

 the Salaam, as lately as March 1 5, so it must have crossed 

 the river and travelled over forty miles during the short 

 time that elapsed before it was shot. 



March 27. A hippo which was killed last evening 

 by Vivian was found at sunrise, and very soon after- 

 wards it was surrounded by more than sixty Arab 

 hunters, so greatly have they multiplied of late ; and 

 owing to the large amount of meat we have in camp, 

 our men let the visitors have all of it excepting the hide 

 and fat. 



This is the third hippo we have killed this week 

 for the Arabs' benefit ; and with our experience we 

 seldom require to expend upon each more than one 

 expanding bullet, small as it is, from our express rifles, 

 for if it strikes a hippo in the eye or within two 

 or three inches below it death is sure to follow. The 

 programme is to sit near the edge of a pool, allowing a 

 little intervening space if the bank is a low one, to check 

 the too eager advance of a crocodile, and to wait 

 patiently for the momentary appearance of a hippo's 



S 



