THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 241 



of the body of tlie hippopotamtis, tlie stump end of the whip, 

 •whicli is about as thick as one's finger, corresponding to the skin 

 on the back, whilst the point is the skin of the belly." 



The destruction of the hippopotamus by the Africans is accom- 

 panied by all the cruelty that is characteristic of the people — 

 spearing, poisoning, maiming, and pitfalls, being the methods most 

 frequently adopted. 



In the Natural History observations made by the Swedish 

 naturalist Hasselquist, who published an account of his " Voyages 

 and Travels in the Levant in the years 1749, '50, '51, and '52," 

 some most extraordinary particulars are given for facts con- 

 cerning the hippopotamus, and a remarkable method of destroying 

 the animal adopted by the people of the country is narrated. 

 His statement was made, he writes, on the authority of a 

 " credible person " who lived twelve years in Egypt. 



" The hide of a full-grown hippopotamus is a load for a camel. 



" The river-horse is an inveterate enemy to the crocodile, and 

 kills it whenever he meets it. This, with some other reasons, 

 contributes much to the extirpation of the crocodiles; which, 

 otherwise, considering the many eggs they lay, would utterly 

 destroy Egypt." 



He goes on to say that in consequence of the animal only 

 appearing in Upper Egypt, where no European understanding 

 natural history has travelled, " we know little of the history of 

 this animal; such as have travelled in India, have had better 

 opportunities of informing themselves in this matter. . . . 



" The river-horse does much damage to the Egyptians in those 

 places he frequents. He goes on shore, and in a short space of 

 time destroys an entire field of corn or clover, not leaving the 

 least verdure as he passes, for he is voracious and requires much 

 to fill his great belly. They have a curious manner of freeing 

 themselves in some measure from this destructive animal ; they 

 remark the places he frequents most, and there lay a large quantity 

 of peas ; when the beast comes on shore, hungry and voracious, 

 he falls to eating what is nearest him, and filling his belly with 

 the peas, they occasion an insupportable thirst ; he then returns 

 immediately into the river, and drinks upon these dry peas large 



