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apparently about to attack the vessel。 The main deck being crowded with
people sleeping beneath their thick mosquito curtains； attached to the
stairs of the poop…deck； and to the rigging in all directions； rendered
it impossible to descend。 I at once tore away some of the ties； and
awakened the sleepy people。 My servant； Suleiman； was sleeping next to
the cabin door。 I called to him for a rifle。 Before the affrighted
Suleiman could bring the rifle； the hippopotamus dashed at us with
indescribable fury。 With one blow he capsized and sank the zinc boat
with its cargo of flesh。 In another instant he seized the dingy in his
immense jaws； and the crash of splintered wood betokened the complete
destruction of my favourite boat。 By this time Suleiman appeared from
the cabin with an unloaded gun in his hand and without ammunition。 This
was a very good man； but he was never overburdened with presence of
mind； he was shaking so fearfully with nervousness； that his senses had
entirely abandoned him。 All the people were shouting and endeavouring to
scare the hippo； which attacked us without ceasing with a blind fury
that I have never witnessed in any animal except a bull…dog。
By this time I had procured a rifle from the cabin； where they were
always kept fixed in a row； loaded and ready for action； with bags of
breechloading ammunition on the same shelf。
The movements of the animal were so rapid as he charged and plunged
alternately beneath the water in a cloud of foam and wave； that it was
impossible to aim correctly at the small but fatal spot upon the head。
The moon was extremely bright； and presently； as he charged straight at
the diahbeeah； I stopped him with a No。 8 Reilly shell。 To my surprise；
he soon recovered； and again commenced the attack。
I fired shot after shot at him without apparent effect。 The diahbeeah
rocked about upon the waves raised by the efforts of so large an animal；
this movement rendered the aim uncertain。 At length； apparently badly
wounded； he retired to the high grass； there he lay by the bank； at
about twenty…five yards' distance； snorting and blowing。
I could not distinguish him； as merely the head was above water； and
this was concealed by the deep shadow thrown by the high grass。 Thinking
that he would die； I went to bed； but before this I took the precaution
to arrange a white paper sight upon the muzzle of my rifle； without
which； night shooting is very uncertain。
We had fallen asleep； but in about half an hour we were awoke by another
tremendous splash； and once more this mad beast came charging directly
at us as though unhurt。 In another instant he was at the diahbeeah； but
I met him with a ball in the top of his head which sent him rolling over
and over； sometimes on his back； kicking with his four legs above the
surface； and again producing waves which rocked the diahbeeah。 In this
helpless manner he rolled for about fifty yards down the stream； and we
all thought him killed。
To our amazement he recovered； and we heard him splashing as he moved
slowly along the river through the high grass by the left bank。 There he
remained snorting and blowing； and as the light of the moon was of no
service in the dark shadows of the high grass； we waited for a
considerable time and then went to bed； with the rifle placed in
readiness on deck。
In a short time I heard louder splashing。 I again got up； and I
perceived him about eighty yards distant； walking slowly across the
river in the shallows。 Having a fair shot at the shoulder； I fired right
and left with the No。 8 Reilly rifle； and I distinctly heard the bullets
strike。 He nevertheless reached the right bank； when he presently turned
round and attempted to re…cross the shallow。 This gave me a good chance
at the shoulder； as his body was entirely exposed。 He staggered forward
at the shot； and fell dead in the shallow flat of the river。
He was now past recovery。 It was very cold： the thermometer was 54
degrees Fahrenheit； and the blankets were very agreeable； as once more
all hands turned in to sleep。
On the following morning I made a post…mortem examination。 He had
received three shots in the flank and shoulder； four in the head； one of
which had broken his lower jaw； another through his nose had passed
downward and cut off one of his large tusks。 I never witnessed such
determined and unprovoked fury as was exhibited by this animalhe
appeared to be raving mad。 His body was a mass of frightful scars； the
result of continual conflicts with bulls of his own species； some of
these wounds were still unhealed。 There was one scar about two feet in
length； and about two inches below the level of the surface skin； upon
the flank。 He was evidently a character of the worst description； but
whose madness rendered him callous to all punishment。 I can only suppose
that the attack upon the vessels was induced by the smell of the raw
hippopotamus flesh； which was hung in long strips about the rigging； and
with which the zinc boat was filled。 The dead hippopotamus that was
floating astern lashed to the diahbeeah had not been molested。
We raised the zinc boat； which was fortunately unhurt。 The dingy had
lost a mouthful； as the hippopotamus had bitten out a portion of the
side； including the gunwale of hard wood； he had munched out a piece
like the port of a small vessel； which he had accomplished with the same
ease as though it had been a slice of toast。
I sent the boat to the English shipwrights for repair； and these capital
workmen turned it out in a few days nearly as good as new。
The success of the dam was most complete。 The river rose so as to
overflow the marshes； which enabled us to push all the vessels up the
channel without the necessity of deepening it by spade labour。
〃March 14。Should we succeed in reaching Gondokoro without serious
loss； it will be the greatest possible triumph over difficulties； which
no one can understand who has not witnessed the necessities of the
journey。
〃A diahbeeah arrived in the lake； breaking her yard in a sudden shift of
wind； and giving a man a fall from aloft； which was fatal。
〃The steamer and fleet are coming through the sudd as fast as the troops
clear the channel。
〃March 15。The steamer arrived in the lake at 3。30 P。M。
〃March 16。Thermometer； 6 A。M。； 61 degrees； noon； 82 degrees。 Eleven
vessels entered the lake last night。 The wind has been very variable for
the last few days； and the true north wind appears to have deserted us；
the absence of a fair breeze delays us sadly in pushing through the
narrow channels against the stream。
〃Dysentery and scurvy are prevalent among the Egyptians。 Four Egyptian
soldiers and two Soudanis have deserted。 Where these wretched fools
intend to wander is quite a speculation；they appear to have yielded
to a temptation to run away upon the first dry land that they have seen
for months。
〃The fleet assembled in the lake。 The Egyptian troops cut a passage for
fifty yards through a sudd in a channel through which the fleet must
pass； as there is a shallow that will prevent them from taking the main
course of the lake。
〃To…morrow the whole force will turn out an