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ll sizes。
During our stay these hippos led a life of alarmed and angry care。 When we first arrived they were distributed picturesquely on banks or sandbars； or were lying in midstream。 At once they disappeared under water。 By the end of four or five minutes they began to come to the surface。 Each beast took one disgusted look； snorted； and sank again。 So hasty was his action that he did not even take time to get a full breath； consequently up he had to come in not more than two minutes； this time。 The third submersion lasted less than a minute； and at the end of half hour of yelling we had the hippos alternating between the bottom of the river and the surface of the water about as fast as they could make a round trip； blowing like porpoises。 It was a comical sight。 And as some of the boys were always out watching the show； those hippos had no respite during the daylight hours。 From a short distance inland the explosive blowing as they came to the surface sounded like the irregular exhaust of a steam…engine。
We camped at this spot four days； and never； in that length of time； during the daytime； did those hippopotamuses take any recreation and rest。 To be sure after a little they calmed down sufficiently to remain on the surface for a half minute or so； instead of gasping a mouthful of air and plunging below at once； but below was where they considered they belonged most of the time。 We got to recognize certain individuals。 They would stare at us fixedly for a while； and then would glump down out of sight like submarines。
When I saw them thus floating with only the very top of the head and snout out of water； I for the first time appreciated why the Greeks had named them hippopotamuses…the river horses。 With the heavy jowl hidden； and the prominent nostrils； the long reverse…curved nose； the wide eyes； and the little pointed ears alone visible； they resembled more than a little that sort of conventionalized and noble charger seen on the frieze of the Parthenon； or in the prancy paintings of the Renaissance。
There were hippopotamuses of all sizes and of all colours。 The little ones； not bigger than a grand piano； were of flesh pink。 Those half…grown were mottled with pink and black in blotches。 The adults were almost invariably all dark； though a few of them retained still a small pink spot or so…a sort of persistence in mature years of the eternal boy…； I suppose。 All were very sleek and shiny with the wet； and they had a fashion of suddenly and violently wiggling one or the other or both of their little ears in ridiculous contrast to the fixed stare of their bung eyes。 Generally they had nothing to say as to the situation； though occasionally some exasperated old codger would utter a grumbling bellow。
The ground vegetation for a good quarter mile from the river bank was entirely destroyed； and the earth beaten and packed hard by these animals。 Landing trails had been made leading out from the water by easy and regular grades。 These trails were about two feet wide and worn a foot or so deep。 They differed from the rhino trails； from which they could be easily distinguished； in that they showed distinctly two parallel tracks separated from each other by a slight ridge。 In other words； the hippo waddles。 These trails we found as far as four and five miles inland。 They were used； of course； only at night； and led invariably to lush and heavy feed。 While we were encamped there； the country on our side the river was not used by our particular herd of hippos。 One night； however； we were awakened by a tremendous rending crash of breaking bushes； followed by an instant's silence and then the outbreak of a babel of voices。 Then we heard a prolonged sw…i…sh…sh…sh； exactly like the launching of a big boat。 A hippo had blundered out the wrong side the river； and fairly into our camp。
In rivers such as the Tana these great beasts are most extraordinarily abundant。 Directly in front of our camp； for example； were three separate herds which contained respectively about sixty； forty； and twenty…five head。 Within two miles below camp were three other big pools each with its population； while a walk of a mile above showed about as many more。 This sort of thing obtained for practically the whole length of the river…hundreds of miles。 Furthermore； every little tributary stream； no matter how small； provided it can muster a pool or so deep enough to submerge so large an animal； has its faithful band。 I have known of a hippo quite happily occupying a ditch pool ten feet wide and fifteen feet long。 There was literally not room enough for the beast to turn around； he had to go in at one end and out at the other！ Each lake； too； is alive with them； and both lakes and rivers are many。
Nobody disturbs hippos； save for trophies and an occasional supply of meat for the men or of cooking fat for the kitchen。 Therefore they wax fat and sassy； and will long continue to flourish in the land。
It takes time to kill a hippo； provided one is wanted。 The mark is small； and generally it is impossible to tell whether or not the bullet has reached the brain。 Harmed or whole the beast sinks anyway。 Some hours later the distention of the stomach will float the body。 Therefore the only decent way to do is to take the shot； and then wait a half day to see whether or not you have missed。 There are always plenty of volunteers in camp to watch the pool； for the boys are extravagantly fond of hippo meat。 Then it is necessary to manoeuvre a rope on the carcass； often a matter of great difficulty； for the other hippos bellow and snort and try to live up to the circus posters of the Blood…sweating Behemoth of Holy Writ； and the crocodiles like dark meat very much。 Usually one offers especial reward to volunteers； and shoots into the water to frighten the beasts。 The volunteer dashes rapidly across the shallows； makes a swift plunge； and clambers out on the floating body as onto a raft。
Then he makes fast the rope； and everybody tails on and tows the whole outfit ashore。 On one occasion the volunteer produced a fish line and actually caught a small fish from the floating carcass！ This sounds like a good one； but I saw it with my own two eyes。
It was at the hippo pool camp that we first became acquainted with Funny Face。
Funny Face was the smallest； furriest little monkey you ever saw。 I never cared for monkeys before； but this one was altogether engaging。 He had thick soft fur almost like that on a Persian cat； and a tiny human black face； and hands that emerged from a ruff； and he was about as big as old…fashioned dolls used to be before they began to try to imitate real babies with them。 That is to say； he was that big when we said farewell to him。 When we first knew him； had he stood in a half pint measure he could just have seen over the rim。 We caught him in a little thorn ravine all by himself； a fact that perhaps indicates that his mother had been killed； or perhaps that he； like a good little Funny Face； was merely staying where he was told while she was away。 At any rate he fought savagely； according to his small powers。 We took him ignominiously by the scruff of the neck； haled him to camp； and dumped him down on Billy。 Billy constructed him