chap, i.] “ PERHAPS IT WAS HIS UNCLES' 45 
the people into the open river; I was therefore obliged 
to end the sport by putting a ball through his head. 
He was scored all over by the tusks of some other 
hippopotamus that had been bullying him. The men 
declared that his father had thus misused him ; others 
were of opinion that it was his mother; and the argu¬ 
ment ran high, and became hot. These Arabs have 
an extraordinary taste for arguments upon the most 
trifling points. I have frequently known my men 
argue throughout the greater part of the night, and 
recommence the same argument on the following 
morning. These debates generally end in a fight; 
and in the present instance the excitement of the 
hunt only added to the heat of the argument. 
They at length agreed to refer it to me, and both 
parties approached, vociferously advancing their theo¬ 
ries ; one half persisting that the young hippo had 
been bullied by his father, and the others adhering to 
the mother as the cause. I, being referee, suggested 
that “ perhaps it was his uncle.” Wah Illahi sahe ! 
(By Allah it is true!) Both parties were satis¬ 
fied with the suggestion; dropping their theory they 
became practical, and fell to with knives and axes 
to cut up the cause of the argument. He was as fat as 
butter, and was a perfect godsend to the people, who 
divided him with great excitement and good humour. 
We are now a fleet of seven boats, those of several 
traders having joined us. The “ Clumsy's” yard looks 
much better than formerly. I cut off' about ten feet 
from the end, as it was topheavy. The yard of this 
class of vessel should look like an immense fishing- 
rod, and should be proportionately elastic, as it tapers 
gradually to a point. Course S.E. I hear that the 
Shillook tribe have attacked Chenooda's people, and 
that his boat was capsized, and some lives lost in 
the hasty retreat. It serves these slave-hunters right, 
and I rejoice at their defeat. Exodus xx. 16 : “ And 
he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be 
found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death." 
