HIPPOPOTAMUS 
199 
unavenged, for he is prompt to seize a chance, and one 
crunch of those tremendous jaws may seal the fate of a 
dug-out with all its crew. But savage life hardly counts. 
The still, currentless water at this point being 
favourable for recovering dead, I shot a couple of 
these hippos. It is a remarkable fact that not even the 
terrific shock of a -450 cordite rifle (exerting a striking 
energy of 5000 foot-pounds) will kill a hippo outright unless 
the brain itself be pierced—and that organ is extremely 
small. In that case (death of course being instan¬ 
taneous), the hippo either slowly subsides 
from view—a gurgle of escaping air follow¬ 
ing the final disappearance; or else rolls 
completely over, displaying the four stumpy 
legs erect and rigid, with their four toes 
widely outstretched. If these are rigid, the 
animal is already dead. But should the 
legs when thus exposed be working at 
full speed—as though their owner were Shilluk Chief. 
galloping upside down —• then the actual 
brain has not been pierced and that hippo may not be 
recovered at once, if at all. 
The certain spot to kill a swimming hippo outright 
when full broadside on, is two inches below base of ear, 
which means about one inch above water-line. This 
involves very accurate aiming. 
What savage scenes attend the death of each hippo¬ 
potamus ! The huge carcase has been dragged ashore, 
a mountain of flesh—pink below, mud-brown above—- 
surrounded by chattering hordes of excited naked 
Shilluks in oddest coiffures. With wondrous skill they 
carve and hack, and hew with their spears great blocks, 
chunks and strips of reeking meat—butchering, yelling, 
squabbling savages—a pandemonium. 
Already lines of fires have been lit and there is a 
pretence of cooking, but the bulk of our friends bolt it 
raw and reeking. Presently a ton or two of meat, cut 
