MEDICINAL VIRTUES.

415

ivory; as also for instruments, knife-handles, and a variety of other purposes.

Medicinal virtues are attributed to certain parts of the body of the hippopotamus. According to Thunberg, the processus mamillaris of this animal is an effectual remedy for the stone and gravel; and "the fat"-says Kolben-"is reckoned an excellent thing against a surfeit and a redundancy of humors in the body."

CHAPTER XLI.

THE BAYEYE HARPOON

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS—THE HARPOON DESCRIBEDHOW THE CHASE OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS IS CONDUCTED BY THE BAYEYE-HOW IT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS-THE SPEAR USED BY THEM-FEROCITY OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS-KILLED BY GUNS-FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT-THE DOWNFALL.

On the Teoge, and other rivers to the northward of Ngami, the natives are accustomed to harpoon the hippopotamus in a somewhat similar manner as that practiced with the whale. I will endeavor to describe the process, which, singularly enough, has never to my knowledge been done by any traveler.

The harpoon (of iron), A, is, as seen in the above diagram, short and strong, and provided with a single barb, B. The shaft, or handle, c c, consists of a stout pole from ten to twelve feet in length, by three or four inches in thickness. At the inner end of the shaft, c c, is a socket for the reception of the harpoon, A; which is further secured to the shaft (at about one-third from the socket) by a number of small cords, E E.'

The object of having the connecting line to consist of a number of small cords, instead of a single stout one, is to reduce the chance of its being severed by the teeth of the hippopotamus.

HOW THE CHASE IS

CONDUCTED.

417

These cords, when the animal is struck, and a strain consequently comes upon them, relax, so as to allow the harpoon to slip out of the socket, though, of course, it still remains attached to the shaft. To the other extremity of the handle is fixed the harpoon-line, F, which is strong, and of considerable length; and, to the end of this, a "float" or "buoy," G. From the weight of the shaft, the harpoon is seldom or never hurled at the hippopotamus, but is held by the harpooner, who drives it either vertically or obliquely into the body of the animal.

Sometimes the chase is conducted with canoes alone; at others, in connection with a "reed-raft," similarly constructed to that recently described. We will suppose the latter plan is adopted. At the appointed time, the men assemble at the rendezvous; and, after everything has been duly arranged, and the canoes, needed for the prosecution of the hunt, drawn up on the raft, the latter is pushed from the shore, and afterwards abandoned entirely to the stream, which propels the unwieldy mass gently and noiselessly forward.

Hippopotami are not found in all parts of the river, but only in certain localities. On approaching their favorite haunts, the natives keep a very sharp look-out for the animals, whose presence is often known by their snorts and grunts, whilst splashing and blowing in the water, or (should there be no interruption to the view) by the ripple on the surface, long before they are actually seen.

The

As soon as the position of the hippopotami is ascertained, one or more of the most skillful and intrepid of the hunters stand prepared with the harpoons; whilst the rest make ready to launch the canoes, should the attack prove successful. bustle and noise caused by these preparations gradually subside. Conversation is carried on in a whisper, and every one is on the qui-vive. The snorting and plunging become every moment more distinct; but a bend in the stream still hides the animals from view. The angle being passed, several dark objects are seen floating listlessly on the water, looking more like the crests of sunken rocks, than living creatures. Ever and anon, one or other of the shapeless masses is submerged, but soon again makes its appearance on the surface. On, on, glides the raft with its sable crew, who are now worked up to the highest state of excitement. At last, the raft is in the midst of the herd, who appear quite unconscious of danger. Presently, one of the animals is in immediate contact with the raft. Now is the critical moment. The foremost harpooner raises himself to his full height to give the greater force to the blow, and, the next in

418

THE

HIPPOPOTAMUS IS STRUCK.

stant, the fatal iron descends with unerring accuracy in the body of the hippopotamus.

The wounded animal plunges violently, and dives to the bottom; but all his efforts to escape are unavailing. The line, or the shaft, of the harpoon may break; but the cruel barb, once imbedded in the flesh, the weapon (owing to the thickness and toughness of the beast's hide) cannot be withdrawn.

As soon as the hippopotamus is struck, one or more of the men launch a canoe from off the raft, and hasten to the shore with the harpoon-line, and take a "round turn" with it about a tree, or bunch of reeds, so that the animal may either be "brought up" at once, or, should there be too great a strain on the line, "played" (to liken small things to great) in the same manner as the salmon by the fisherman. But if time should not admit of the line being passed round a tree, or the like, both line and "buoy" are thrown into the water, and the animal goes wheresoever he chooses.

THE SPEAR.

The accompanying plate represents a hippopotamus in this position.