THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 





Mr. Gumming and the Hippopotamus. 









The following account of a Hippopotamus hunt is condensed from Mr. Cumming's "Adventures:" 

 Just as the sun was going down, I came upon the fresh lairs of four Hippopotami. They had been lying 

 sleeping on the margin of the river, and, on hearing me come crackling through the reeds, had plunged into 

 the deep water. Next moment I heaid them blowing a little way down the river. I then headed them, 

 and with considerable difficulty at length came right down above where they were standing. There were 

 three cows and an old bull; they stood in the middle of the river, and. though alarmed, did not appear 



aware of the extent of the impending 

 danger. I took the sea-cow next me, and 

 with my first ball I gave her a mortal 

 wound, knocking loose a great plate on 

 the top of her skull. She at once com- 

 menced plunging round and round, and 

 then occasionally remained still, sitting 

 for a few minutes on the same spot. 

 I feared that she would get into deep 

 water, and accordingly fired a second shot, 

 which, entering the roof of her skull, 

 passed out through her eye ; she then 

 kept continually splashing round and 

 round in a circle in the middle of the 

 river. Divestirng myself of my leathers, 

 and armed with a sharp knife, I dashed 

 into the water, which at first took me up 

 to my arm-pits, but in the middle was 

 shallower. On reaching her, I seized her 

 short tail, and attempted to incline her 

 ciause to land. After some hard work, 

 I succeeded in bringing the animal to the 

 bank. I then took my rifle and sent a 



Hunting the Hippopotamus. 



ball thr ugh the centre 



if her head, 

 (isr. 



