T R A V E L S r N 
Having obferved near this fpot, which was 
not far diftant from the river, the frefli traces 
of two hippopotami, I followed thefe marks, 
and eafily difcovered the place where the ani- 
mals had again entered the water. I liftened 
very attentively, but I heard nothing ; and the 
banks of the river were fo encumbered with 
reeds and fhrubs, that I could not get near 
them, Thefe animals therefore had every ad- 
Tantage to enable them to conceal themfelves, 
and to avoid rifmg up from the water to breathe* 
Itvv'ould havebeen lofmg time to wait for then>; 
the hour of dinner was approaching, and I 
was both tired and hungry. As I had advanced 
too far in pnrfult of my goat-fucker and other 
birds, I fet out to return to my camp by the 
Ihorteft way ; and while I was going towards 
the eaft, and direding my route by the fun, 
the report of a fufee, fired almoft at my ear, 
made me ftart, and filled me with the greater 
fear, as it was unexpected. Knowing that it 
could be fired only by fome of my people, I ran 
towards the place whence the found feemed 
to proceed, and found one of my worft markf- 
men v^^afling my powder in vain. He told 
me that he had been watching an hippopo- 
tamus from the break of day, that he had 
fired 
