398 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



never rose above water in the day-time, but came on shore 

 in the night, and destroyed as much by the treading of its 

 enormous feet as it did by its voracity ; the people have no 

 means of killing them. At Sennaar, where Hippopotami 

 are numerous, they are caught by trenches, slightly covered 

 with reeds, in which they fall during their nightly ex- 

 cursions. The whips called korbadj, which are formed of 

 their skins, are made at Sennaar, and on the Nile, above 

 that place. Immediately after being taken off, the skin is 

 cut into narrow strips about five or six feet in length, 

 gradually tapering to a point : each strip is then rolled up 

 so that the edges unite and form a pipe, in which state it is 

 tied fast and left to dry in the sun. In order to render 

 these whips pliable, they must be rubbed with butter or 

 grease. At Shendy they are sold at the rate of twelve or 

 sixteen for a Spanish dollar ; in Egypt, where they are in 

 general use, and the dread of every servant and peasant, 

 they are worth from half a dollar to a dollar each. In 

 colder climates, even in Syria, they become brittle, crack, 

 and lose their elasticity. 



We have but little information on the sensitive organs of 

 these animals ; in conformity, however, with their brutal 

 character these seem but little developed. The eyes are 

 small, as are also the external ears ; the nostrils are bulg- 

 ing, and surrounded to all appearance with cartilage and 

 muscle, to enable the animal to shut or close them accord- 

 ing to their position in or out of the water. The whole 

 body is nearly denuded except at the end of the tail and the 

 ears, and there are some rough hajrs on the lips. It is 

 believed that these animals bring but one young at a time, 

 which the mother carries about on her back. They attain 

 ten or eleven feet in length, and stand four or five in height. 

 Mr. Burchell found about six bushels of chewed grass in 

 the stomach. The food passes in a very undigested state, 

 and even then has more the appearance of mingled grass 



