1872.] ; THE HIPPOPOTAMUS HUNT. 207 



liarpooner sits down, seizes his paddle, and backs too to 

 escape : the animal surprised and wounded seldom returns 

 the attack at this stage of the hunt. The next stage, how- 

 ever, is full of danger. 



The barbed blade of the harpoon is secured by a long and 

 very strong rope wound round the handle : it is intended to 

 come out of its socket, and while the iron head is firmly 

 fixed in the animal's body the rope unwinds and the handle 

 floats on the surface. The hunter next goes to the handle 

 and hauls on the rope till he knows that he is right over the 

 beast : when he feels the line suddenly slacken he is pre- 

 pared to deliver another harpoon the instant that hippo.'s 

 enormous jaws appear with a terrible grunt above the water. 

 The backing by the paddles is again repeated, but hippo, 

 often assaults the canoe, crunches it with his great jaws as 

 easily as a pig would a bunch of asparagus, or shivers it 

 with a kick by his hind foot. Deprived of their canoe the 

 gallant comrades instantly dive and swim to the shore under 

 water : they say that the infuriated beast looks for them on 

 the surface, and being below they escape his sight. When 

 caught by many harpoons the crews of several canoes seize 

 the handles and drag him hither and thither till, weakened 

 by loss of blood, he succumbs. 



This hunting requires the greatest skill, courage, and 

 nerve that can be conceived — double armed and threefold 

 brass, or whatever the iEneid says. The Makombwe are 

 certainly a magnificent race of men, hardy and active in 

 their habits, and well fed, as the result of their brave 

 exploits ; every muscle is well developed, and though not 

 so tall as some tribes, their figures are compact and finely 

 proportioned : being a family occupation it has no doubt 

 helped in the production of fine physical development. 

 Though all the people among whom they sojourn would 

 like the profits they secure by the flesh and curved tusks, 

 and no game is preserved, I have met with no competitors 



