490 UNGULATA. 



rope composed of a number of separate strands. This peculiar rope is 

 employed to prevent the animal from severing it, which he would soon 

 manage were it to be composed of a single strand. To the other end of 

 the shaft a strong line is fastened, and to the other end of the line a float 

 or buoy is attached. As this composite harpoon is very weighty it is not 

 thrown at the animal, but is urged by the force of the harpooner's arm. 

 The manner of employing it shall be told in Mr. Andersson's own words : 

 " As soon as the position of the hippopotami is ascertained, one or more 

 of the most skillful and intrepid of the hunters stand prepared with the 

 harpoons, while the rest make ready to launch the canoes should the 

 attack prove successful. The bustle and noise caused by these prepara- 

 tions gradually subside. Conversation is carried on in a whisper, and 

 every one is on the qui-vive. The snorting and plunging become every 

 moment more distinct ; but a bend in the stream still hides the animals 

 from view. The angle being passed, several dark objects are seen float- 

 ing listlessly on the water, looking more like the crests of sunken rocks 

 than living creatures. Ever and anon one or other of the shapeless 

 masses is submerged, but soon again makes its appearance on the sur- 

 face. On, on glides the raft with its sable crew, who are now worked 

 up to the highest state of excitement. At last the raft is in the midst of 

 the herd, who appear quite unconscious of danger. Presently one of the 

 animals is in immediate contact with the raft. Now is the critical 

 moment. The foremost harpooner raises himself to his full height, to 

 give the greater force to the blow, and the next instant the fatal iron 

 descends with unerring accuracy in the body of the hippopotamus. The 

 wounded animal plunges violently, and dives to the bottom ; but all his 

 efforts to escape are unavailing. The line or the shaft of the harpoon 

 may break ; but the cruel barb once imbedded in the flesh, the weapon 

 (owing to the toughness and thickness of the beast's hide) cannot be 

 withdrawn. As soon as the hippopotamus is struck one or more of the 

 men launch a canoe from off the raft, and hasten to the shore with the 

 harpoon-line, and take a round-turn with it about a tree or bunch of 

 reeds, so that the animal may either be ' brought-up ' at once, or, should 

 there be too great a strain on the line, ' played ' (to liken small things to 

 great) in the same manner as the salmon by the fishermen. But if time 

 should not admit of the line being passed round a tree or the like, both 

 line and ' buoy ' are thrown into the water, and the animal goes wherever 

 \iz chooses. The rest of the canoes are now all launched from off the 



