436 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
shooting them than in shooting tame cattle in an 
English park. 
At the side of the river an ancient hippo came within 
easy range, and as these animals are always fair game I 
sent a three-ounce ball crashing through his tough old 
head. A-propos of these most formidable creatures (for¬ 
midable when in the water only), some gentlemen from 
the mission were once crossing this part of the river 
when a sportive hippo elevated the boat, party and all, 
into the air, consigning the occupants to the tender 
mercies of the water; the ducking being nothing 
compared with the horrible thought of falling a prey to 
the devouring crocodile. All had a most miraculous 
escape as they succeeded in scrambling to the shore. 
The valuables, as a matter of course, were utterly lost. 
The hippos have been very destructive to the mosquito 
fleet of the missionaries, some of the best boats being 
sent to the bottom. 
Coming back from the morning hunt I found that 
Cliraud had reached the launch before me, having killed 
two reed-bucks and one impala antelope. Upon that 
and succeeding days there was great feasting for the 
villagers of Matope. 
On approaching the village I perceived a large number 
of blacks assembled on the banks, each with a cloth 
around the waist; quite a civilized lot of men, I 
thought, as I remembered how long it was since I had 
been in such decorous company. They were the carriers 
from Blantyre. 
Mr. Harkess handed me a small bundle of letters 
which had been sent on by some ever-mindful friends 
to the care of the missionaries at Blantyre, who doubt¬ 
less wondered from what direction the mysterious man 
was to appear. Friendship’s missives are always 
welcome wherever we may be, but how thoroughly they 
are appreciated when they happen to be the first we 
have received after a long and enforced silence ! 
In this instance the only letter that could be of any 
interest to the reader was that of Mr. Moir, Manager of 
the African Lakes Company, which briefly stated that 
