160 Anecdotal Natural History. 



nature of the African draught ox are forced to suc- 

 cumb. 



The driver can direct his blow with unerring cer- 

 tainty, and a single stroke will cut completely into the 

 skins of two oxen at once, raising a cloud of hair, 

 and often causing blood to spirt from the wound. 

 The crack of this sjambok is as loud as a pistol 

 shot, and at the very sound of it the oxen fling them- 

 selves against the yokes so as to avert the dreaded 

 blow. 



The short sjambok is popularly known as the ' cow- 

 hide,' because it is made of the hide of the 'sea-cow.' 



In order to retain the vital heat below the surface 

 of the water, a similar provision is found in the hippo- 

 potamus to that with which the whale is furnished. 

 Beneath the skin is a thick layer of fat, a wonderful 

 non-conductor of heat, while a system of glands keep 

 the outer skin constantly lubricated with oil, and thus 

 prevent it from coming into actual contact with the 

 watery element. 



This sub-cutaneous fat-layer is considered a great 

 delicacy, and is known by the Dutch colonists as 

 'Zee-koe speck,' or sea-cow bacon. 



The animal possesses the remarkable power of sink- 

 ing the whole of its body beneath the surface at will, and 

 remaining under water for a considerable period 

 of time. This feat is accomplished by the contrac- 

 tion of the body, so that, while the weight remains 

 the same, the bulk is considerably decreased, and 

 a lesser quantity of water displaced. 



Like the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, whether upon 

 land or in the water, is usually a very sluggish animal, 

 and seems greatly averse to active exertion. When 

 attacked, however, or otherwise alarmed, it exhibits the 

 most wonderful activity, dashing through the water in a 

 series of tremendous leaps, or rushing through the 



