size； are frequently torn down for the sake of this small production；
that would appear too insignificant for the notice of so huge an animal。
I once had an opportunity of witnessing an elephant's strength exerted
in his search for this small fruit。 I was in the Shir country； and one
evening； accompanied by Lieutenant Baker； I strolled into the forest；
about half a mile from our vessels； to watch for waterbuck （Redunca
Ellipsiprymna） in a small glade where I had shot one on the previous
evening。
We had not long been concealed； when I heard a peculiar noise in the
thick forest that denoted the approach of elephants。
We at once retreated to some rising ground about 150 paces distant； as
our small rifles would have been useless against such heavy game。 In a
short time several elephants appeared from various portions of the
covert； and one of extraordinary size moved slowly towards us； until he
halted beneath a tall； spreading heglik。 This tree must have been nearly
three feet in diameter； and was about thirty feet high from the ground
to the first branch； it was therefore impossible for the elephant to
gather the coveted fruit。 To root up such a tree would have been out of
the question。 The elephant paused for a short time； as though
considering； he then butted his forehead suddenly against the trunk。 I
could not have believed the effect： this large tree； which was equal in
appearance to the average size of park…timber； quivered in every branch
to such a degree； that had a person taken refuge from an elephant； and
thought himself secure in the top； he would have found it difficult to
hold on。
When the lalobes fall； they must be picked up individually and although
the trouble appears disproportioned to the value of the fruit； there is
no food so much coveted by elephants。
Near this spot； on the following day； I had a close adventure with a
hippopotamus。 I had gone to the same place where I had seen the
elephants； and I was returning through the forest within a few yards of
the river margin； when； upon suddenly turning round a dense thorn…bush；
I came within four or five paces of a large bull hippopotamus。 This
animal had left the river for an evening ramble on the shore； and was
munching some succulent grass with such gusto that he had not heard my
approach。 Unfortunately； I had come upon him exactly at right angles；
which restricted my shot to the temple。 This is the most difficult of
penetration in the hippopotamus。
I only had the 〃Dutchman；〃 and my attendant Monsoor carried a snider
rifle； thus we were badly armed for so impenetrable a beast。 I fired
just in front of the ear； certainly within fifteen feet。 The only effect
produced was a shake of his head； and he appeared rather stupid； as
though stunned。 The left…hand barrel followed quickly upon the right。
Monsoor fired with his snider。 The 〃Dutchman；〃 being a breechloader； was
ready again； and we fired into this stupid…looking brute as though he
had been a target； and with about the same effect。
Suddenly； as though we had just awakened him； he turned round and bolted
into a dense mass of thorns； about thirty paces before us。
In the mean time； the troops at the vessels； that were within about 300
paces； having heard the rapid and continued firing； supposed that I had
been attacked by the natives。 The 〃Forty Thieves〃 rushed to the rescue。
I heard the bugle； and presently the voices of the men as they
approached； running through the bush at full speed。 The hippopotamus had
moved from his thorny retreat； and was walking slowly forward； when he
was stumbled against by 〃The Forty；〃 some of whom literally ran against
him。
The animal appeared quite stunned and stupid； and he merely stood and
stared at his new assailants。 The sight was perfectly ridiculous。 Every
rifle was fired into him； but the hollow bullets of the sniders had no
penetration； and we might as well have peppered the stone bulls of
Nineveh； in the British Museum。 At length； after having been the centre
of a blaze of fireworks； as every man did his best to kill him during
the space of about a minute； he coolly approached the edge of the cliff；
which was quite perpendicular and about eighteen feet high。
A tremendous splash was the end of the encounter； as the hippo committed
himself to the deep； with a clumsy jump from the midst of the
disappointed soldiers。
I was constantly annoyed by the want of penetration of the Boxer hollow
bullets。 The 〃Dutchman〃 carried three drachms of No。 6…grain powder；
which should have driven a solid bullet through a large antelope； but
the hollow Boxer projectile invariably disappeared in small fragments
upon striking a bone； or it expanded； and had no further penetrating
power after striking a thick hide。
The sniders； although admirable military weapons； possessed a very small
power of penetration。 I have frequently seen the bodies of natives with
only one bullet…mark； and I have extracted bullets that ought to have
passed completely through。
My 〃Forty Thieves〃 were now proud of themselves as experienced in
various sports； and they were terribly disgusted at the escape of the
hippopotamus。 They were never idle for a single day。 If no other work
was on hand； I practised them at the target； or they were treated to a
few hours' drill。
Sometimes I took them fishing： this was always a great amusement； as the
expedition was well furnished with nets。
There was a small lake near my station that abounded in fish。 One of my
sailors belonging to the diahbeeah was a professional fisherman；
descended from a race of this calling。 I had therefore intrusted him
with the charge of the nets。 All the sailors of the diahbeeah were good
men； but the fisherman； Howarti； was the best of the picked crew。 He was
a Nubian； born in Khartoum； and of an exceedingly light colour。 His
style of beauty was rather spoiled by the loss of one eye； and
altogether his personal appearance was not attractive； but he was very
strong； although a small man； and in any case of emergency he was the
most active and intelligent sailor。 Howarti was always the first man to
leap overboard with the tow rope； when it became necessary to drag the
vessel against wind and stream： he was； like all Nubians； an admirable
swimmer。
Our comfort had depended much upon this man throughout the expedition；
as he was the only person who could properly throw a casting…net。 Thus
he had always supplied us with excellent fish。 I often admired his
perseverance； when； after twenty or thirty barren casts； he rested for a
while； cleaned his net； and waded； in spite of crocodiles； to seek a
more likely spot to catch fish for breakfast； at a time when this meal
would depend entirely upon his success。 At such times I frequently
advised him as a good Mohammedan to say 〃Bismillah〃 （in the name of God）
before he threw the net。 On the first occasion； before I gave him this
advice； he had had extremely bad luck； and he told me that 〃something
was wrong with the fish；〃 as he had thrown his net for an hour without
catching anything； except a few uneatable spike…fish。
I advised him to come with me in the dingy； and having rowed a short
distance； we arrived at a sand…bank in the bend of the river。 Here we
landed； and I found fault with Howarti for omitting to say 〃Bismillah！〃
〃Will it do any good？〃 asked the profane Howarti。 〃Try；〃 I replied； 〃you
know the opinion of Mohammedans； now then； Howarti； say 'Bismillah；' and
throw just in that hole close to the weeds。 Spin your net so that it
shall fall perfectly round； and advance very quietly to the edge； so
that your shadow shall not disturb the fish。〃
〃Bismillah！〃 ejaculated Howarti； and he crept cautiously forward to a
very likely…looking hole。 〃Bismillah！〃 and with a dexterous throw； the
net described an exact circle as it fell evenly upon the water。
No sooner had the fisherman commenced to tighten the crown line； when
the rapid and powerful jerks showed that he had something good within
his net。 〃Now； Howarti； look sharp！ the bottom is clean sand： haul away；
and don't give them time to burrow beneath the leads。〃
Howarti hauled away； and as the net came near the shore； there was such
a splashing and jumping as he had rarely seen。 The net came in upon the
clean sand…bank； and we counted upwards of forty fine boulti； several of
about four pounds； and the smallest about half a pound weight。
Howarti； having counted his fish； exclaimed； piously；
〃Elliambd…el…Illah！〃 and added： 〃In future I shall always say
'Bismillah！'〃
Howarti cleaned his net： the fish were placed in a basket； and were
covered with some river…weed to keep them fresh。
Once more the fisherman arranged his net upon his arm； and cautiously
approached a most inviting little nook； where some large lotus leaves
floating on the surface denoted a medium depth。
〃Now then； Howarti； throw very carefully； so as to spread your net in
that open space among the lilies； and take care to avoid the leaf stems
that would lift the leads。〃
〃Bismillah！〃 away flew the net； which fell in a circle； exactly in the
spot desired。
It was amusing to watch the usually stolid countenance of Howarti； that
was now expressive of intense curiosity。
The crown…line jerked and tugged even more than at the first lucky
throw。 Howarti cleverly and cautiously landed his net。 It contained a
regular 〃miraculous draught；〃 including a Nile carp of about nine
pounds。
〃That will do； Howarti；〃 I exclaimed； 〃we have fish enough for all the
people on the diahbeeah； as well as for the officers of 'The Forty。'〃
The basket would not contain them； therefore the larger fish were laid
upon grass in the bottom of the boat； and we returned home。
Howarti now divided the fish according to orders； and explained to the
delighted crowd the extraordinary effect of the word 〃Bismillah；〃 which
insured a netful at every cast。
On the following morning； at sunrise； the now pious Howarti went out as
usual with his casting…net accompanied by a sailor； who carried the
largest basket he could procure。
We had moved our position； and there was no sand…bank in the
neighbourhood。
After an absence of about two hours； Howarti returned；