BANKS OF THE TACAZZE. 
355 
overfalls, a circumstance that renders it fordable at almost every 
season of the year. Between these fords deep holes or pits inter- 
vene, of almost immeasurable depth, which when viewed frooi a 
height present a similar appearance to the small lochs or tarns 
found among our own mountains in the north, and it is in these 
depths that the hippopotamus chieHy delights. After proceed- 
ing a short distance, we arrived at one of the most frequented 
of their haunts, where several of these animals were observed, 
when, after partially taking off our clothes, we crossed the river 
with our guns, for the purpose of getting a more convenient and 
secure situation to attack them : the eastern side, from its being 
flat and sandy, affording no advantage of this nature. The stream 
at this time might be about fifty yards across, and, at the ford over 
which we passed, about three feet deep, flowing with a moderate 
current, like the Thames at Richmond, though either side of its bed 
bore evident marks of the tremendous torrents which pour down in 
the rainy season. At this point the river divides the two districts 
of Avergale and Samen ; so that the moment we had passed over, 
we might be considered as having entered the latter province. 
Having soon found a place adapted to the purpose we had in 
view, we stationed ourselves on a high overhanging rock, which 
commanded the depth I have before mentioned, and had not 
long remained in this spot before we discovered an hippopota- 
mus, not more than twenty yards distant, rising to the surface. 
At first it came up very confidently, raising its enormous head 
out of the water, and snorting violently in a manner somewhat 
i-esembling the noise made by a porpus. At this instant three of 
lis discharged our guns, the contents of which appeared to strike 
,5S 7, 
