THE GREAT THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS 
*73 
African whip used on oxen and natives alike. It may be well to men¬ 
tion here that the ox is the draft animal universally used, as the dread 
tsetse fly which is found in many sections, is deadly to horses and 
almost as bad for mules. Oxen, however, seem to be more nearly 
immune. In Uganda, however, even the ox is barred out, and natives 
as porters are the only carriers possible. 
A Duel.— A traveler was witness to a duel between two male 
hippopotami which he records thus: 
“It was broad day; and, hidden on the river bank, I had been 
watching for some time the gambols of a herd of these animals, when 
all of a sudden two of the largest rose to the surface and rushed at each 
other. Their great hideous jaws were extended wide open, their eyes 
flaming with rage, each one seeming bent on the destruction of his 
enemy. They seized each other with their jaws; they stabbed and 
punched with their strong tusks, by turns advancing and retreating, 
now at the top of the water and sometimes at the bottom of the river. 
The foam-beaten waves were stained with their blood, and their 
furious roars were frightful to listen to. They showed very little tact 
in their movements, but on the other hand they exhibited piggish 
obstinacy in maintaining their ground, and frightful savageness in 
their demeanor. The combat lasted for an hour. Evidently they were 
mutually operating upon armor too hard to admit of their wounds 
being very dangerous. At last one of them turned his back on his 
enemy and went away, leaving the other victorious and master of the 
field of battle.” 
The Zebra.—Still following the family of pachyderms, we come 
to the zebra. This curious animal might be called a cousin of the 
jackass so nearly alike is it in shape and general characteristics. It 
stands about four feet high at the shoulder and eight feet long. In 
shape it is light and symmetrical, with slender legs and small feet 
terminating in a solid hoof. The head is light and bony with ass-like 
ears. The tail is blackish and tufted at the end. Here, however, the 
resemblance to the above-mentioned animal ceases. The ground 
color of the hair is white, and the whole body, with the exception of 
the under side of the belly and the inside of the thighs, is covered with 
narrow black bands placed wider or closer together. The mane is 
