166 FISH— IGUANOS— HIPPOPOTAMI. Chap. XIII. 



maimer. Soaring over head, it watches till a fine fish is safe 

 in the pelican's pouch, and then it descends with a tremendous 

 rush. The pelican looks up to see what is the matter, and, 

 seeing the hawk approaching, roars out "Murder!" in his 

 terror. The opening of his mouth enables the hawk to whisk 

 the fish out of his pouch, upon which the pelican quietly 

 recommences fishing. 



A fish called mosheba, about the size of a minnow, often 

 skims along the surface for several yards, in order to get out 

 of the way of the canoe. It never makes a clean flight as the 

 flying fish, but rather a succession of hops, by the aid of its 

 side fins. 



Numbers of iguanos (mpulu), which were sunning them- 

 selves on overhanging branches, splashed into the water on 

 our approach. They are highly esteemed as an article of 

 food, and hence the chief boatman had a light javelin always 

 at hand, to spear them if they did not disappear too quickly. 

 The surface of the stream was further disturbed by large 

 alligators taking the water with a heavy plunge as we 

 mounded the bend of the river. 



The rapids between Katima-molelo and Nameta are relieved 

 by reaches of still deep water, which are frequented by large 

 herds of hippopotami, the furrows they make, in ascending 

 the banks to graze during the night, being everywhere 

 apparent. As they are guided back to the water by scent, 

 they cannot after a long-continued rain perceive in which 

 direction the river lies, and they are found standing bewil- 

 dered on the land. On these occasions the hunters take 

 advantage of their helplessness to killthem. 



The males are of a dark colour, the females of a yellowish 

 brown. There is not such a complete separation of the 

 sexes among them as amongst elephants. It is impossible to 

 judge of the numbers in a herd, as they are generally hidden 

 beneath the water ; they rise, however, every few minutes to 

 breathe, and a constant succession of heads furnishes an 

 indication that the herd is large. The still reaches are their 

 favourite haunts, as elsewhere the constant exertion necessary 

 to keep themselves from being carried down the stream 

 disturbs their nap. They remain by day in a drowsy yawning 

 state, taking little notice of things at a distance. The malee 



