HIPPOPOTAMUS 199 



unavenged, for he is prompt to seize a chance, and one 

 crunch of those tremendous jaws may seal the fate of a 

 dug-out with all its crew. But savage life hardly counts. 



The still, currentless water at this point being 

 favourable for recovering dead, I shot a couple of 

 these hippos. It is a remarkable fact that not even the 

 terrific shock of a -450 cordite rifle (exerting a striking 

 energy of 5000 foot-pounds) will kill a hippo outright unless 

 the brain itself be pierced and that organ is extremely 

 small. In that case (death of course being instan- 

 taneous), the hippo either slowly subsides 

 from view a gurgle of escaping air follow- 

 ing the final disappearance ; or else rolls 

 completely over, displaying the four stumpy 

 legs erect and rigid, with their four toes 

 widely outstretched. If these are rigid, the 

 animal is already dead. But should the 

 legs when thus exposed be working at 

 full speed as though their owner were SHILLUK CHIEF. 

 galloping upside down then the actual 

 brain has not been pierced and that hippo may not be 

 recovered at once, if at all. 



The certain spot to kill a swimming hippo outright 

 when full broadside on, is two inches below base of ear, 

 which means about one inch above water-line. This 

 involves very accurate aiming. 



What savage scenes attend the death of each hippo- 

 potamus ! The huge carcase has been dragged ashore, 

 a mountain of flesh pink below, mud-brown above 

 surrounded by chattering hordes of excited naked 

 Shilluks in oddest coiffures. With wondrous skill they 

 carve and hack, and hew with their spears great blocks, 

 chunks and strips of reeking meat butchering, yelling, 

 squabbling savages a pandemonium. 



Already lines of fires have been lit and there is a 

 pretence of cooking, but the bulk of our friends bolt it 

 raw and reeking. Presently a ton or two of meat, cut 



