TWO HUGE SEA-COWS BAGGED. 155 



1 held up the river to see what the other sea-cows were 

 dping, when, to my particular satisfaction, I beheld the 

 body of the other huge sea-cow which I had shot in 

 the brain floating in the pool where I had shot her, and 

 stationary within about twenty yards of the other side. 

 I then held down the river to the tail of the pool, where 

 the stream was broad and rapid, and less likely to hold 

 crocodiles, and -here, although cold and worn out, J 

 swam across to secure my game. The wagons now 

 came up, and two of my Hottentots swam over to my 

 assistance ; but, just as we were going in to secure the 

 sea-cow, she became disengaged from the invisible fet- 

 ters that had held her, and which turned out to be the 

 branch of a gigantic old tree that some flood had lodged 

 in the bottom of the pool. The sea-cow now floated 

 down the middle of the river ; when she neared the tail 

 of the pool, we swam in and inclined her course to shore, 

 and stranded her on a fine gravel bank. 



This truly magnificent specimen was just about the 

 same size as the first, and apparently older, but her 

 teeth were not quite so thick. Ordering the natives at 

 once to cut off her huge head, and having seen it de- 

 posited safely on the bank along with that of her com- 

 rade, I held for my wagons, having to cross the Lepa- 

 lala to reach them. I was very cold and worn out, but 

 most highly gratified at my good fortune in first kill- 

 ing, and then in securing, two out of the four best sea • 

 cows ini a herd of fourteen. 



