366 TRAVELS IN 
The foot which had been dreffed for me 
during the night was ferved up for my break- 
faft ; it was exceedingly nourifhing ; and I 
thought it even fuperior to that of the ele- 
phant : it was more delicate, and I never eat 
any thing in my life with more pleafure. 
Though the hippopotamus is extremely fat. 
Its greafe has nothing in it difgufting ; and it 
does not produce any of thofe bad efFeds 
which are occafioned by that of other animals. 
My people melted it, and drank it from bafins, 
as if it had been broth. Befides this, by rub- 
bing it over their bodies, they Ihone as much 
as if they had been varnifhed, and their fwollen 
bellies fufEciently fhewed that they had not 
been very fparing in their repafts during the 
night. 
I had forgot to order a horfe for myfelf ; 
but Swanepoel fupplied this omiffion ; for 
the heat was exceffive, and we were diftant 
full fix leagues from my camp. Having fixed 
a large chain to the head of the hippopotamus, 
and yoked twelve oxen to it, while they went 
along the banks of the river they experienced 
much difficulty and fatigue, either from the 
inequality of the road, or from the trunks of 
large trees, which every moment interrupted 
their 
