Enterprise and Adventure/Perils of African Rivers
THE PERILS OF AFRICAN RIVERS.
Captain Owen, who was commissioned by the British admiral, soon after the death of the Landers, to make a survey of some portions of the shores of Africa, as well as of Arabia and Madagascar, has given us in his narrative of travels a striking picture of encounters with wild animals on the African rivers, while exploring the river Temby. Captain Owen's lieutenant, named Vidal, had just commenced ascending this stream in his boat, when suddenly a violent shock was felt from underneath, and in another moment a monstrous hippopotamus reared itself up from the water, and in a most ferocious and menacing attitude rushed open-mouthed at the boat, and with one grasp of its tremendous jaws seized and tore seven planks from her side. The creature disappeared for a few seconds and then rose again, apparently intending to repeat the attack, but was deterred by the contents of a musket discharged in its face. The boat now rapidly filled, but as it was not more than an oar's length from the shore, they succeeded in reaching it before she sank. It was supposed that the keel touched the back of the animal, which irritating him occasioned this furious attack. Had he succeeded in getting his upper jaw above the gun whale, the whole broadside must have been torn out. The force of the shock from beneath, previously to the attack, was so violent, that the stern of the boat was almost lifted out of the water; and the midshipman steering was thrown overboard, but fortunately rescued before the irritated animal could seize him. The boat was hauled up on a dry spot, and her repairs immediately commenced. The tents were pitched, and those of the party that were not employed as carpenters amused themselves—the officers in shooting, and the men in strolling about the deserted country round them, being first ordered not to proceed out of hearing.
In another portion of his narrative the same traveller gives the following striking description of a hunt after these ferocious animals:—As all our attempts to obtain an hippopotamus had hitherto failed, and as we were not likely to meet with another opportunity, this being our last visit to Delagoa Bay, a party of officers volunteered for the chase, and were conveyed up the Dundas river in the "Albatross." The evening set in before they reached that part of the river where the hippopotami were the most abundant. Three parties were, however, formed, who at midnight commenced their pursuit. The scene was novel and imposing. A body of men, armed at all points with muskets, harpoons, and lances, walking on the shallows of the river, with nothing but the moon to light them, all hallooing and driving before them their huge game, who, blowing, snorting, and bellowing, were floundering through the mud from the numerous holes which they had made at the bottom for their retreat, but from which the hunters' lances soon expelled them, until ultimately driven upon dry ground, where a running contest commenced—the beast sometimes being pursued, and at others pursuing.
This lasted for some time, but still there were no signs of man's boasted pre-eminence. Not an animal had the party secured, dead or alive. At low water the following morning one party formed a line across one of the shallows, where the depth was not above two feet, while the boats went up the river and actually drove the animals down the stream, another party having lined the banks to prevent their taking to the woods and reeds. These, whenever the monstrous but timid animals attempted to pass them, set up a shout, which in most instances proved sufficient to turn them back into the water; when, having collected a vast number on one shallow bank of sand, the whole of the hunters commenced from all sides a regular cannonade upon the astonished brutes. Unwieldy as they appeared, still much activity was displayed in their efforts to escape the murderous and unceasing fire to which they were exposed. The one-pound gun occasionally furrowed the thick hide of some, while others were perpetually assailed by a shower of pewter musket-balls. One, a cub, was nearly caught uninjured in attempting to follow its mother, who, galled to desperation, was endeavouring to escape through the land-party; but as soon as the affectionate brute perceived her offspring falling into the hands of her enemies, forgetting her fears she rushed furiously at the offenders, when they in their turn were obliged to retreat. But again they contrived to separate them, and had almost secured the prize, when the angry mother, regardless of their close and almost fatal fire, succeeded in redeeming it from their grasp and bearing it off, although herself in a state of great exhaustion. With the flood this sport ended.