7 6 4 



THE HIPPOTAMIUS, OR ZEEKOE. 



life, it takes its stand on its mother's neck, and is borne by her above or through the 

 water as experience may dictate or necessity require. 



There are various modes of hunting this mischievous but valuable animal, each of 

 which is in vogue in its own particular region. The pitfalls above mentioned are uni- 

 versal throughout the whole Hippopotamus country, and lure many an animal to its 

 destruction without needing any care or superintendence on the part of the men who 

 set the snare. There is also the " down-fall," a trap which consists of a log of wood, 

 weighted heavily at one end, to which extremity is loosely fixed a spear-head well 

 treated with poison. This terrible log is suspended over some Hippopotamus path, 

 and is kept in its place by a slight cord which crosses the path and is connected with 

 a catch or trigger. As soon as the animal presses the cord, the catch is liberated, and 

 down comes the armed log, striking the poisoned spear deep into the poor beast's back, 

 and speedily killing it by the poison, if not from the immediate effects of the wound. 



HIPPOPOTAMUS, OR ZEEKOE. Hippopotamus amphiblus. 



The white hunter of course employs his rifle and finds that the huge animal affords 

 no easy mark, as unless it is hit in a mortal spot it dives below the surface and makes 

 good its escape. Mortal spots, moreover, are not easy to find, or when found, to hit ; 

 for the animal soon gets cunning after it has been alarmed, and remains deeply im- 

 mersed in the water as long as it is able, and when it at last comes to the surface to 

 breathe, it only just pushes its nostrils above the surf ace, takes in the required amount 

 of air, and sinks back again to the river bed. Moreover, it will often be so extremely 

 wary, that it will not protrude even its mouth in the open water, and looks out for 

 some reeds or floating substances which may cover its movements while breathing. 

 As a general rule, it is found that the most deadly wound that can be given to a 

 Hippopotamus is on the nose, for the animal is then unable to remain below the sur- 

 face, and consquently presents an easy mark to the hunter. A heavy ball just below 

 the shoulder always gives a mortal wound, and in default of such a mark being 

 presented, the eye or the ear is a good place to aim. 



