THE HIPPOPOTAME. 



It comes on more by night, to feed on the luxuriant herbage which grows 

 on the banks of the rivers, and fometimes does great damage to the adjacent 

 plantations of rice and other grain, of which it tramples down and deftroys 

 even more than it eats. It is alarmed at the leaft noife, when it inftantly 

 plunges into the water, and finks to the bottom, where it walks about at its 

 eafe, riling fometimes to the furface to take in frefh air, when it remains for 

 a minute or two with its head above w r ater, making a horrid bellowing 

 noife, which may be heard at a considerable diftance. It is a Ihy and cautious 

 animal ; and, in places where it fufpe&s danger, it puts only one noltril out 

 of the water, for the purpofe of breathing. 



Like the Rhinoceros and Elephant, this animal is almofi: destitute of hair, 

 a few only being thinly fcattered on different parts of the head and body ; 

 thefe are of a reddilh-brown colour, and are from a quarter to half an inch 

 in length, except thofe which grow on the edges of the tail, which are 

 longer ; they are placed at the distance of half an inch from each other. The 

 tail is Ihaped like that of the Rhinoceros, flattened at the fides, and the 

 edges, or fharp parts, are placed upwards and downwards. The fkin of the 

 Hippopotamus is fironger, thicker, and more flexible than that of the 

 Rhinoceros, but it is not lb tranfparent ; the colonists make excellent whips 

 of it, which are more durable than any other. 



Dr. Sparrman fays, the flefh of the young Hippopotamus, which he 

 killed, was tender, and the fat tailed like marrow ; he adds, the colonists 

 confider the fiefh and fat of the Sea Cow as the wholefomeft meat that can 

 be eaten ; particularly the gelatinous part of the feet, which, when properly 

 drefied, are confidered as a great delicacy. The dried tongues of thefe 

 animals are likewife confidered as a great dainty. 



It appears that this animal is capable of living in fait water, as 

 Dr. Sparrman fays, he has feen them at the mouth of Kromme and Camtour 

 Rivers, efpecially the latter, thrusting their heads above water, to blow 

 themfelves in open daylight : it is probable, however, that it cannot drink 

 fait water ; as a Hippopotamus, which had been disturbed in the river, and 

 had taken refuge in the fea, was obliged to go on fhore every night, to drink 



