AN ACROBATIC HIPPO 



We had no trouble in finding the hippo — there 

 was a family of twelve — but I left them alone for a 

 while in order to photograph some weaver-birds' 

 nests, thereby fulfilling two purposes — getting a 

 picture for which I was anxious, and allowing the 

 hippo to become used to our presence. It was a dull 

 and really bitterly cold day, so that waiting was a 

 little tedious, but at last I decided that it would be safe 

 to approach the hippo. 



There was a very small floating island about four 

 feet wide and thirtj^-five feet long, round which the 

 animals had gathered. One old bull was making most 

 desperate love to a cow, diving under the island, 

 swimming round her, and apparently caressing after 

 his own fashion. Once he jumped out of the w^ater 

 right over the floating island, never touching it, but 

 going in with a tremendous splash on the other side. 

 I suppose no white man has ever seen such a sight 

 before. It seems almost incredible — a huge hippo 

 leaping clean into the air so that the whole of his vast 

 body, legs and feet were visible at once. We have had 

 great difficulty in convincing people of this fact, and 

 perhaps should have failed had we not had three other 

 witnesses, namely, the boy who was in the boat with 

 us, the Masai and a porter. The two latter were 

 waiting on shore for us and saw the affair distinctly. 



As we drew near the animals they grew excited, 

 especially the old bull, who evidently did not like 



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