66 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



that river with the Tuli, however, they may be found abundantly in 

 favourable places, as also in most rivers emptying into the Indian 

 Ocean between it and the Zambesi, which are in character deep or 

 are possessed of occasional deep pools. Stray herds may be met 

 with in the extreme Northern courses of the Guai, Shangani, 

 Umniati, Umfuli, and Hangani Rivers before joining the Zambesi, 

 but owing to the shallow and uncertain character of these streams 

 the natives are rapidly killing them out. In the Zambesi and 

 Chobe they are very numerous, and fairly so in the Botletle and 

 Lake 'Ngami, while in the vast swamps formed by the Okavango 

 North of that Lake, they are extremely common and may be con- 

 tinually found in herds exceeding 20 in number. Only emerging from 

 their natural strongholds during the night to feed, it is quite probable 

 that these animals may be found frequenting the rivers of tropical 

 South Africa long after the Elephant and Rhinoceros have passed 

 away. 



If by any chance a Hippopotamus be discovered out of the water, 

 its destruction is easily accomplished, as it will quickly die if struck 

 well on the shoulder; but under ordinary circumstances they are 

 more difficult to kill than any other pachyderm. As boats are 

 generally wanting, it is almost impossible to induce the natives to 

 follow them with their canoes into deep water, they being fully 

 aware of the disastrous results accompanying the attack of one of 

 these beasts when infuriated ; and whatever may have been the case 

 formerly, one nowadays seldom hears of natives in canoes, even 

 when armed with rifles, venturing upon an encounter with the 

 Hippopotamus while in its favourite element. Andersson has 

 repeatedly mentioned how the aborigines have, without the least 

 hesitation, attacked these amphibious monsters, armed alone 

 with harpoons and spears; but, disclaiming any intentional reflec- 

 tion or doubt as to his veracity, it is certain that the natives of 

 to-day can never be got to initiate an attack upon them in a similar 

 manner, for when proceeding along a river frequented by the 

 Hippopotamus, they take good care to closely hug the shores and 

 shallows, and never for a moment allow their canoes to float into 

 deep water. Whether this fear arises from any diminution of 

 courage that formerly characterised them, or by an increased 

 ferocity on the part of the animals, due to their having been 

 so ruthlessly fired at and wounded, so much do the Kaffirs dread 

 an onslaught, that it is not an uncommon sight to witness herds 



