THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 311 



When any object of prey appears upon the wa- 

 ter, he darts upon it like an arrow from a bow. 

 While the hippopotamus is liftening in this 

 manner, and floating on the furface of the wa- 

 ter, the hunters endeavour to moot him in the 

 head. The one whofe fkin I fluffed was mot 

 between the eye and the right ear ; and the 

 young one, which is alio in the Prince's cabinet, 

 had been fhot, or ftruck with an harpoon, in the 

 breaft, as appears from infpection. When he 

 feels that he is wounded, he plunges below the 

 water, and walks or fwims till he lofes both mo- 

 tion and life. Then, by means of about twenty 

 oxen, he is dragged on more and differed. An 

 adult hippopotamus generally yields about two 

 thoufand pounds of fat, which is faked and fent 

 to the Cape, where it fells very dear. This fat 

 or lard is extremely good, and in relifh excels 

 all others. When preifed, it yields a mild oil, 

 as white as cream. In Africa, it is recommend- 

 ed as a fovereign remedy for difeafes of the 

 brealt. The quantity of lard derived from an 

 individual, demonftrates that this animal is of a 

 furprifing weight and magnitude. 



Before finiihing my remark, I fhall here add 

 fome particulars, regarding the natural hiftory 

 of the hippopotamus, which are not to be found 

 in the preceding defcription. 



We have feen, that the hippopotamus pro- 

 bably derived his name from the relemblance of 

 his voice to the neighing of a horfe. From the 



moft 



