72 ' BEASTS AND MEN 
young hippopotami pitfalls are very commonly employed. 
The success of this method is due to the habit of the hippo- 
potamus of allowing its young to trot along in front of it, in- 
stead of behind, so that it can keep a look-out for any danger 
which may threaten its young one. The pitfall is made in a 
track which the animal is in the habit of using, and is covered 
over with branches to conceal it. As the hippopotamus goes 
along with its young one in front, the latter suddenly seems 
to vanish into the earth ; and the terrified mother, though not 
wanting in maternal affection, is so taken aback that she turns 
and flies, leaving her offspring to its fate. Then, if all goes 
well, the hunter secures his booty without further trouble. 
On one occasion, after a young hippopotamus had been caught 
in this fashion, the natives came rushing into our camp beam- 
ing with joy, shouting to us “ Bana kiboko makufa!” (The 
hippopotamus is dead). Nothing was left to us but to reply 
“Nakula kiboko!” (Eat it up); for it was their anticipation 
of this permission that had caused all the rejoicing and tumult. 
It often happens, when the animal is left a night in the pit, that 
it is found by a lion; and in the morning nothing is left of it 
but skin and bones. But when no mishap has occurred it is 
still a matter of some little difficulty to extract the hippopota- 
mus from the pit. A  palisade is first erected round the mouth 
of the pit; and over this palisade a noose is thrown round 
the neck of the animal. When these creatures are agitated 
they break into profuse perspiration, which causes them to 
become so slimy and slippery that it is difficult to make the 
noose hold. For this reason, it is passed not over the neck 
only, but over the forelegs as well. As soon as the noose 
is fixed in position the animal is hoisted a few inches off the 
ground, by the combined efforts of about twenty men pulling 
on the rope. Half a dozen others jump into the pit, and 
bind together the forelegs and the hindlegs, as also the jaws ; 
for the animals are obstinate and malicious, and it does not do 
to run any risks with them. Unlike the rhinoceros, which soon 
learns to know its keeper and will follow the caravan like a 
