4-6 NATURAL HISTORV. 
the legs are three feet long, and the head 
nearly four. HaflTelquift fays, the hide alone 
is a load for a camel. Its Jaws extend about 
two feet, with four cutting teeth in each, 
which are twelve inches in length. The 
teeth of the lea-horle are in great eftimation 
among miniature painters, on account of 
their never lo ling their primitive whitenels ; 
a quality which the tooth of an elephant does 
not polTefs. The fkin is fb thick as to refill 
the edge of a fword or fabre. Contrary to 
all other amphibious animals, its feet are 
not webbed. In figure it is between the ox 
and hog ; and is found near lakes and rivers, 
from the Niger to the Cape of Good Hope, 
in Africa. 
This animal purfues its prey with great 
rapidity in the water, under which it will re- 
main thirty or forty minutes. They do great 
injury to the African plantations. Dampier 
fays they are fo llrong, that he has feen one 
overturn a bout with fix men in it ; notwith- 
llanding wliich, they are inotfenfive to all 
except their natural prey. A convincing 
proof that Providence has formed the llrong- 
ell animals to be the moll harmlefs ! They ne- 
ver leave the mouth of the frelh- water rivers. 
The female brings forth her young, which 
is a fingle offspring, on land. They are ta- 
ken in pit -falls, and have been often tamed. 
Their flelli, which is as ‘delicate as veal, is 
fold like other meat, in the public market. 
This 
