A. HERD OF HIPPOPOTAM. 143 



On the 18th a dense mist hung over the river all the 

 morning. Ordering the wagons to follow in an hour, 

 I rode ahead to seek the sea-cow of the previous night, 

 but after a long search I gave it up as a bad job, and, 

 kindling a fire to warm myself, awaited the wagons, 

 which presently came up. Here I halted for two hours, 

 and then once more rode ahead to seek hippopotami. 

 The river became more promising for sea-cow. At 

 -every turn there occurred deep, still pools, with occa- 

 sional sandy islands densely clad with lofty reeds, and 

 with banks covered with reeds to a breadth of thirty 

 yards. Above and beyond these reeds stood trees of 

 immense age and gigantic size, beneath which grew a 

 long and very rank description of grass, on which the 

 sea-cow delights to pasture. 



I soon found fresh spoor, and after holding on for sev- 

 eral miles, just as the sun was going down, and as I 

 entered a dense reed cover, I came upon the fresh lairs 

 of four hippopotami. They had been lying sleeping on 

 the margin of the river, and, on hearing me come crack- 

 ling through the reeds, had plunged into the deep wa- 

 ter. I at once ascertained that they were newly start- 

 ed, for' the froth and bubbles were still on the spot where 

 they had plunged in. Next moment I heard them blov/- 

 ing a little way down the river. I then headed them, 

 and, with considerable difficulty, owing to the cover 

 and the reeds, at length came right down above where 

 they were standing. It was a broad part of the river, 

 with a sandy bottom, and the water came half way up 

 their sides. There were four of them, three cows and 

 an old bull ; they stood in the middle of the river, and, 

 though alarmed, did not appear aware of the extent of 

 the impending danger. 



I took the sea-cow next me, and with ray first ball I 



