226 AT GONYK FAIXS. 



disturb.? them in their nap. They prefer to remain by- 

 day in a drowsy yawning state, and, though their eyes are 

 open, they take little notice of things at a distance. The 

 males utter a loud succession of snorting grunts, which 

 may be heard a mile off. The canoe in which I was, in 

 passing over a wounded one, elicited a distinct grunting, 

 though the animal lay entirely under water. 



The young, when very little, take their stand on the 

 neck of the dam, and the small head, rising above the large, 

 comes soonest to the surface. The dam, knowing the 

 more urgent need of her calf, comes more frequently to 

 the surface when it is in her care. But in the rivers of 

 Londa, where they are much in danger of being shot, 

 even the hippopotamus gains wit by_ experience ; for 

 while those in the Zambesi put up their heads openly to 

 blow, those referred to keep their noses among water- 

 plants and breathe so quietly that one would not dream 

 of their existence in the river, except by footprints on 

 the banks. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



30th November, 1853. — AT Gonye Falls. No rain has 

 fallen here, so it is excessively hot. The trees have put 

 on their gayest dress, and many flowers adorn the land- 

 scape, yet the heat makes all the leaves droop at mid-day 

 and look languid for want of rain. If the country increases 

 as much in beauty in front, as it has done within the last 

 four degrees of latitude, it will be indeed a lovely land. 



We all felt great lassitude in travelling. The atmo- 

 sphere is oppressive both in cloud and sunshine. The 

 evaporation from the river must be excessively great, and 

 I feel as if the fluids of the system joined in the general 

 motion of watery vapour upwards, as enormous quantities 

 of water must be drunk to supply its place. _ 



When under weigh our usual procedure is this : — We 

 get up a little before five in the morning ; it is then 

 beginning to dawn. While I am dressing, coffee is made ; 

 and, having filled my pannikin, the remainder is handed 



