80 
some very broken and rocky ground, and pitched our tent 
near to the pool they pointed out as containing the 
sea-cows. Dubois was suffering from a slight attack of 
fever, and so I went down to the water with the Caffres, 
and there we found five or six of the hippopotami standing 
in some shallow water at the head of the pool, but they 
soon disappeared into the deep holes as we approached, 
and then commenced rising and blowing as usual. I had 
several shots, and succeeded in killing one at last. He 
came to the surface dead in about two hours, but we could 
not go in after him as one of his companions continued 
snorting round him, and would strongly have resented any 
attempt we might make to obtain possession of our prey ; 
so we left him in the river for the night to give the 
survivors time to clear out of the pool. The evenings are 
deliciously cool, and I used to thoroughly enjoy the hour 
or two after dinner by the firelight with that inestimable 
comfort a pipe of good tobacco, talking over the events of 
the day, and arranging plans for the morrow. We used 
often to speculate whether Jack" would last out to carry 
E. back again, and how long we might remain amongst 
the game so as to get back to the wagons before Jack " 
should give in, or the rainy and unhealthy season overtake 
us. It was now one especially realized the value of a 
chair, as it is difficult to find an attitude of perfect repose 
upon the ground until we turned into our bed in the tent, 
composed of cut grass, a waterproof sheet, two or three 
blankets, a cotton sheet, which E. considered indispensable, 
and a diminutive pillow. 
Next morning we were all down at the water-side, and 
found our friend floating under the opposite bank, so in 
we jumped, and after swimming him across we soon rolled 
him up high and dry on the sand and proceeded to cut him 
up. He proved a fine young bull in fair condition, but the 
hippopotamus is always fat under the belly. The skin in 
