44 
CATCH A HIPPOPOTAMUS. 
[chap. I. 
women wear a bag slung from the neck, apparently 
to contain any presents they may receive, everything 
being immediately pocketed. Course S.S.B. 
Jan. lith .—All day occupied in repairing the yard ; 
the buffalo hide of the animal that killed Sali Achmet 
being most serviceable in lashing. Sailed in the 
evening in company' with a boat belonging to the 
Austrian mission. River about 120 yards of clear 
water; current about two miles per hour. Found 
quantities of natron on the marshy ground bordering 
the river. 
Had a turkey for dinner, a “ cadeau ” from Koor- 
shid Aga, and, as a great wonder, the kisras (a sort of 
brown pancake in lieu of bread) were free from sand. 
I must have swallowed a gocd-sized millstone since I 
have been in Africa, in the shape of grit rubbed from 
the moorliaka, or grinding-stone. The moorhaka, 
when new, is a large flat stone, weighing about forty 
pounds; upon this the corn is ground by being rubbed 
with a cylindrical stone with both hands. After a 
few months’ use half of the original grinding-stone 
disappears, the grit being mixed with the flour; thus 
the grinding-stone is actually eaten. No wonder that 
hearts become stony in this country ! 
Jan. 15 th .—We were towing through high reeds this 
morning, the men invisible, and the rope mowing over 
the high tops of the grass, when the noise disturbed 
a hippopotamus from his slumber, and he was imme¬ 
diately perceived close to the boat. He was about 
half grown, and in an instant about twenty men 
jumped into the water in search of him thinking him 
a mere baby; but as he suddenly appeared, and was 
about three times as large as they had expected, they 
were not very eager to close. However the reis 
Diabb pluckily led the way and seized him by the 
hind leg, when the crowd of men rushed in, and we 
had a grand tussle. Ropes were thrown from the 
vessel, and nooses were quickly slipped over his head, 
but he had the best of the struggle and was dragging 
