296 MAMMALIA—HIPPOPOTAMUS. 
which exists in great numbers in the lake, on the border of which we were 
encamped; but a violent thunder storm, to our great disappointment, pre- 
vented our witnessing so novel a species of sport. The flesh is considered 
a great delicacy. On the morrow we had a full opportunity of convincing 
ourselves that these uncouth and stupendous animals are very sensibly 
attracted by musical sounds, even though they should not be of the softest 















































































































kind; as we passed along the borders of Lake Muggaby at sunrise, they 
tollowed the drums of the different chiefs the whole length of the water, 
sometimes approaching so close to the shore, that the water they spouted 
from their mouths reached the persons who were passing along the banks. 
I counted fifteen at one time sporting on the surface; and my servant 
Columbus shot one of them in the head, when he gave so loud a roar, as he 
buried himself in the lake, that all the others disappeared in an instant.” 
The preceding cut is copied from Thompson’s Travels in Southern Africa, 
from which we make the following extract. ‘ The hippopotami are nume- 
rous in many parts of this river, (the Gariep,) and are occasionally caught by 
the natives, by means of huge pitfalls dug in the paths frequented by them 
when they issue from the floods, to browse on the wooded banks. The 
capture of one of those enormous animals must be an event of rejoicing to a 
whole horde of half starved Bushmen or Koranas, sufficient to banish hunger 
and heaviness for months tocome. The hippopotamus, though timid on 
shore, is sometimes a dangerous antagonist in the water. Mr Moffat in- 
formed me, that once when he was passing Read’s Drift, a Hottentot of his 
party was bit in two by one of these monstrous animals.” 
It appears from the accounts of travellers, that the numbers of this animal 
are very great in nearly all the lakes and rivers of Africa, from the Cape of 
Good Hope to 15° north latitude. 
