but be bad tbe best of tbe struggle and was dragging
tbe people into tbe open river; I was therefore obliged
to end tbe sport by putting a ball tbrougb bis bead.
He was scored all over by tbe tusks of some otber
hippopotamus that bad been bullying him. Tbe men
declared that bis father bad thus misused him; others
were of opinion that it was bis mother; and tbe argument
ran high, and became hot. These Arabs have
an extraordinary taste for arguments upon tbe most
trifling points. I have frequently known my men
argue throughout the greater part of tbe night, and
recommence tbe same argument on tbe following
morning. These debates generally end in a fight;
and in tbe present instance tbe excitement of tbe
bunt only added to tbe beat of tbe argument.
They at length agreed to refer it to me, and both
parties approached, vociferously advancing their theories
; one half persisting that tbe young hippo bad
been bullied by bis father, and tbe others adhering to
the mother as tbe cause. I, being referee, suggested
that “ perhaps it was bis uncle.” Wall Illahi sahe !
(By Allah it is tru e !) Both parties were satisfied
with the suggestion; dropping their theory they
became practical, and fell to with knives and axes
to cut up the cause of tbe argument. He was as fat
as butter, and was a perfect godsend to tbe people,
who divided him with great excitement and good
humour.
We are now a fleet of seven boats, those of several
traders having joined us. Tbe “ Clumsy’s I yard looks
much better than formerly. I cut off about ten feet
from tbe end, as it was topheavy. The yard of this
class of vessel should look like an immense fishing-
rod, and should be proportionately elastic, as it tapers
gradually to a point. Course S.E. I hear that the
Shillook tribe have attacked Chenooda’s people, and
that his boat was capsized, and some lives lost in
the hasty retreat. I t serves these slave-hunters right,
and I rejoice at their defeat. Exodus xx. 16 : “ And
he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or i f ’he be
found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.”
.Jan. 16^.—A new dish ! There is no longer mock-
turtle soup veal turtle is mock hippopotamus. I
tried boiling the *fat, flesh, and skin together, the result
bemg that the skin assumes the appearance of the
green fat of thé turtle, but is far superior. A piece
of the head thus boiled, and then soused in vinegar,
with chopped onions, cayenne pepper, and salt, throws
brawn completely in the shade. My men having
revelled in a cauldron of hippopotamus soup, I serve
out grog at sunset, all ships being together. Creat
contentment, all appetites being satisfied. The labour
F 2