THE HIPPOPOTAME. 



engraven on their obelifks ; the Romans alfo knew it, as it is found on fome 

 of their medals. Scaurus (a) exhibited one, as a public ipectacle, during his 

 aedilefhip ; and Auguftus produced one at his triumph over Cleopatra (b) ; 

 notwithstanding which, both the figures and accounts given of it have been 

 very erroneous, and even contradictory. The travels of Dr. Sparrman and 

 other modern naturalifts, on whole abilities and integrity we may depend, 

 have at length, in a great meafure, removed the veil which obfcured this 

 part of natural hiftory, and enabled us to give a tolerably accurate account 

 of this mo ft extraordinary animal. With the true ardor of naturalifts, they 

 followed it to its places of abode, in the interior parts of Africa, many 

 hundred miles up the country ; and, from the opportunities they had, and 

 the ufe they made of them, there can be no doubt of the authenticity of their 

 accounts. 



The largeft animals of this fpecies meafure fixteen feet nine inches in 

 length, fix feet and a half in height, and are fifteen feet in girt ; the mouth 

 opens two feet four inches wide ; the tufks are above a foot long, clear of 

 the gums, and the grinders weigh three pounds each. The general clumfy 

 appearance of this creature makes it bear a great refemblance to a Hog, 

 except that the nofe is rounder, the head larger, and the legs more clumly ; 

 the feet are divided into four toes, each armed with a ftrong hoof, or nail ; 

 and, notwithftanding the animal is amphibious, they are not connected by 

 any membranes. It is probable the name of Sea Cow was given to it from 

 its having four ftomachs, in common with that animal ; and that it was 

 called Sea Horfe, from the neighing noife it makes with its voice, which, 

 Dr. Sparrman fays, may be tolerably well exprefted by the words heurh hurh, 

 heoh-heoh ; the two firft of which are uttered flowly, in a lharp and 

 tremulous found, like the grunting of fome animals ; while the compound 

 word is founded very quick, and much refembles the neighing of a Horfe. 



This animal inhabits all the large rivers of Africa, from the Niger to the 

 Cape of Good Hope ; but it is found in greater! abundance at Konaps River. 



(a) Plin. lib. 8. c. 26. 



(b) Dion Caffius, lib. 5). quoted by Pennant. 



