THE HIPPOPOTAMUS.
The above name is given to an exceedingly large animal, which is found chiefly on the banks of the river Nile. Its body is
more than fourteen feet in length, and twelve feet round ; its head is large, its legs short and thick, its eyes small, and its bones very strong. Some of its teeth are said often to weigh twelve pounds each, are more than ten inches, long and are so hard as lo strike fire with a steel. Its skin is so thick and tough, that it resists the stroke of a sword and even a bullet from a gun. The river borse lives much in water, to which it retreats when attacked. lis usual resting place is among the reeds and under the shade of trees on the side of rivers, where \\ takes us pleasure in rolling iu the mud. its food consists of grass, rice, sugar-cane, and other vegetable substances.
When aroused to anger, the river horse snows amazing strength. Boats have sometimes been sunk by its biting large pieces out of the sides or by its diving, and then quickly rising under them, and tossing them over. . Dr. Bundell's party travelling in South Africa killed one of these animals. Its hide abo*e an inch in thickness, and when pulled off, the noise was similar to that of planks being torn off from the sides of a ship. In its stomach were found more than three bushels of grass. The graphic description of a large animal called Behemoth, in Job, it is generally believed, belongs to this animal,— P. J, magazine.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MMTKM18621216.2.34
Bibliographic details
Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 15, 16 December 1862, Page 25
Word Count
267THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 15, 16 December 1862, Page 25
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