86 THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 



In skilful hands, this terrible weapon, applied to 

 the native's naked back, cuts like a knife, and I 

 have seen sickening sights as the result of its 

 application. This hide is also used for making 

 shields somewhat similar to those carried by 

 certain of the Somali tribes, and fashioned from 

 the skin of the black rhinoceros. From the 

 coatings of the stomach as much as nearly 2 cwt. 

 of excellent fat may be extracted, whilst portions 

 of the meat — for example, the brisket boiled in salt 

 and water — is far from unpalatable. 



The chief methods of capture pursued by 

 natives are pitfalls and harpooning. The latter 

 method, which used to be a very favourite 

 one on the Zambezi, where I have witnessed it, 

 consists in planting in the animal's body a large 

 barbed spear secured by a length of strong rope 

 to a heavy log of wood which acts in the water as 

 a float. The hippopotamus, with one or more of 

 these attached to him, is then vigorously hunted 

 by several scores of savages armed with spears, 

 and after a longer or shorter period is finally ex- 

 hausted and speared to death. I remember some 

 years ago travelling up the Shire River in an open 

 boat and stumbling on to one of these not infre- 

 quent hunts. The first intimation I had of what 

 was in progress was a pressing request from the 

 interested persons to tie my boat up to the river- 

 bank until it was over. I then perceived a number 

 of natives, armed as I have described, rushing along 

 the river-bank, following the dancing vagaries 

 of a large log of wood which hurtled about through 

 the water as though it was endowed with life. 



