HIPPOPOTAMUS, 
44 j 4' 
gome shouting aloud, others occasionally firing their 
pieces, in order to drive towards me the hippopotami 
that might be in that part of the river. They found 
eight ; and all the parties being assembled at the 
common centre, patience and address only were want- 
ing to our purpose. 
In a short time we had wounded several. Two 
were even killed ; and the people of the horde were 
enraptured with joy. But some of them going into 
the river to draw the dead ones ashore, one of the 
swimmers received a stroke from the. snout of one of 
the wounded hippopotami, and one had his thigh rip- 
ped up by the tusk of another. These accidents 
made me fear something worse ; wherefore I recalled 
ai! my people ; and, to the great regret of the 
Nirniquas, put an end to a hunt, which had every 
prospect of being more productive, but which could 
not be continued without great risk. 
The remainder of the day, and part of the next 
morning, were employed in cutting up the animals we 
had k iiedy and loading our oxen with them. The 
smell that issued from them, carried to a distance by 
the winds, drew to the place numbers of hawks and 
vultures, 'which followed us for a long time, sailing 
over our heads. 
The vultures appeared to me of a new and unknown 
species. But I attempted to shoot some of them in 
vain ; for they kept themselves always out of gun- 
shot, and the report of my fusee did nothing but 
drive them off without return. 
Our arrival at the horde was welcomed with great 
joy, and this joy was unbounded when it was known, 
that except a few pieces for my people, I meant to 
give up the whole of the two animals to the kraal. The 
chief, as a testimony of their gratitude, requested me, 
in the name of the whole, to accept a fat ox. 
FINIS. 
BRIGHTLY AND CO. HUNTERS, BUNGATo 
