SOUTHERN AFRICA. 257 
We found also several harpoons of wood, manj of them pomted 
with bone, and fixed to ropes that were apparently made of 
some sort of grass. Deep holes were dug along the side of the 
river at certain distances, and most of them covered over with 
so much care that they were not easily discoverable, which 
made it dangerous to ride along the sea-cow paths. One of 
our horses fell into a hole near nine feet deep, which, for- 
tunately, had no stake in it, otherwise he must inevitably 
have been killed. 
In what part soever we approached the river, hippopotami 
were snorting and playing in vast numbers. Of these animals 
we killed no less than four in one day. They were all re- 
markably lean; a circumstance which was attributed to the 
locusts having devoured every green plant for a considerable 
distance from the banks of the river. We dissected a female, 
and took out of the womb a full-grown foetus, which was per- 
fectly formed in every part except the teeth and tusks. 
Though in this state it was only seven inches long, the same 
animal, had it not been destroyed, would, in the course of 
time, most probably have attained the enormous weight of 
three or four thousand pounds. I put it in brandy, but the 
jolting of the waggon had, in a few days, reduced it to a 
jelly. 
Near the end of the last day's journey, which we made 
along the banks of the river, we halted under the edge of a 
wood of tall mimosas. The branches of the trees were loaded 
with many thousands of the nests of the locust>eating thrush ; 
VOL. I. I 
