the land of footprints-第44部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e。
There were hippopotamuses of all sizes and of all colours。 The little ones； not bigger than a grand piano； were of flesh pink。 Those half…grown were mottled with pink and black in blotches。 The adults were almost invariably all dark； though a few of them retained still a small pink spot or so…a sort of persistence in mature years of the eternal boy…； I suppose。 All were very sleek and shiny with the wet； and they had a fashion of suddenly and violently wiggling one or the other or both of their little ears in ridiculous contrast to the fixed stare of their bung eyes。 Generally they had nothing to say as to the situation； though occasionally some exasperated old codger would utter a grumbling bellow。
The ground vegetation for a good quarter mile from the river bank was entirely destroyed； and the earth beaten and packed hard by these animals。 Landing trails had been made leading out from the water by easy and regular grades。 These trails were about two feet wide and worn a foot or so deep。 They differed from the rhino trails； from which they could be easily distinguished； in that they showed distinctly two parallel tracks separated from each other by a slight ridge。 In other words； the hippo waddles。 These trails we found as far as four and five miles inland。 They were used； of course； only at night； and led invariably to lush and heavy feed。 While we were encamped there； the country on our side the river was not used by our particular herd of hippos。 One night； however； we were awakened by a tremendous rending crash of breaking bushes； followed by an instant's silence and then the outbreak of a babel of voices。 Then we heard a prolonged sw…i…sh…sh…sh； exactly like the launching of a big boat。 A hippo had blundered out the wrong side the river； and fairly into our camp。
In rivers such as the Tana these great beasts are most extraordinarily abundant。 Directly in front of our camp； for example； were three separate herds which contained respectively about sixty； forty； and twenty…five head。 Within two miles below camp were three other big pools each with its population； while a walk of a mile above showed about as many more。 This sort of thing obtained for practically the whole length of the river…hundreds of miles。 Furthermore； every little tributary stream； no matter how small； provided it can muster a pool or so deep enough to submerge so large an animal； has its faithful band。 I have known of a hippo quite happily occupying a ditch pool ten feet wide and fifteen feet long。 There was literally not room enough for the beast to turn around； he had to go in at one end and out at the other！ Each lake； too； is alive with them； and both lakes and rivers are many。
Nobody disturbs hippos； save for trophies and an occasional supply of meat for the men or of cooking fat for the kitchen。 Therefore they wax fat and sassy； and will long continue to flourish in the land。
It takes time to kill a hippo； provided one is wanted。 The mark is small； and generally it is impossible to tell whether or not the bullet has reached the brain。 Harmed or whole the beast sinks anyway。 Some hours later the distention of the stomach will float the body。 Therefore the only decent way to do is to take the shot； and then wait a half day to see whether or not you have missed。 There are always plenty of volunteers in camp to watch the pool； for the boys are extravagantly fond of hippo meat。 Then it is necessary to manoeuvre a rope on the carcass； often a matter of great difficulty； for the other hippos bellow and snort and try to live up to the circus posters of the Blood…sweating Behemoth of Holy Writ； and the crocodiles like dark meat very much。 Usually one offers especial reward to volunteers； and shoots into the water to frighten the beasts。 The volunteer dashes rapidly across the shallows； makes a swift plunge； and clambers out on the floating body as onto a raft。
Then he makes fast the rope； and everybody tails on and tows the whole outfit ashore。 On one occasion the volunteer produced a fish line and actually caught a small fish from the floating carcass！ This sounds like a good one； but I saw it with my own two eyes。
It was at the hippo pool camp that we first became acquainted with Funny Face。
Funny Face was the smallest； furriest little monkey you ever saw。 I never cared for monkeys before； but this one was altogether engaging。 He had thick soft fur almost like that on a Persian cat； and a tiny human black face； and hands that emerged from a ruff； and he was about as big as old…fashioned dolls used to be before they began to try to imitate real babies with them。 That is to say； he was that big when we said farewell to him。 When we first knew him； had he stood in a half pint measure he could just have seen over the rim。 We caught him in a little thorn ravine all by himself； a fact that perhaps indicates that his mother had been killed； or perhaps that he； like a good little Funny Face； was merely staying where he was told while she was away。 At any rate he fought savagely； according to his small powers。 We took him ignominiously by the scruff of the neck； haled him to camp； and dumped him down on Billy。 Billy constructed him a beautiful belt by sacrificing part of a kodak strap （mine）； and tied him to a chop box filled with dry grass。 Thenceforth this became Funny Face's castle； at home and on the march。
Within a few hours his confidence in life was restored。 He accepted small articles of food from our hands； eyeing us intently； retired and examined them。 As they all proved desirable； he rapidly came to the conclusion that these new large strange monkeys； while not so beautiful and agile as his own people； were nevertheless a good sort after all。 Therefore he took us into his confidence。 By next day he was quite tame； would submit to being picked up without struggling； and had ceased trying to take an end off our various fingers。 In fact when the finger was presented； he would seize it in both small black hands； convey it to his mouth； give it several mild and gentle love…chews； and then； clasping it with all four hands； would draw himself up like a little athlete and seat himself upright on the outspread palm。 Thence he would survey the world； wrinkling up his tiny brow。
This chastened and scholarly attitude of mind lasted for four or five days。 Then Funny Face concluded that he understood all about it； had settled satisfactorily to himself all the problems of the world and his relations to it； and had arrived at a good working basis for life。 Therefore these questions ceased to occupy him。 He dismissed them from his mind completely； and gave himself over to light…hearted frivolity。
His disposition was flighty but full of elusive charm。 You deprecated his lack of serious purpose in life； disapproved heartily of his irresponsibility； but you fell to his engaging qualities。 He was a typical example of the lovable good…for…naught。 Nothing retained his attention for two consecutive minutes。 If he seized a nut and started for his chop box with it； the chances were he would drop it and forget all about it in the interest excited by a crawling ant or the colour of a flower。 His elfish face was always alight with the play of emotions and of flashing changing interests。 He was greatly given to starting off on very important errands； which he forgot before he arrived。
In this he contrasted strangely with his friend Darwin。 Darwin was another monkey of the same species； caught about a week later。 Darwin's face was sober and pondering； and his methods direct and effective。 No side excursions into the brilliant though evanescent fields of fancy diverted him from his ends。 These were； generally； to get the most and best food and the warmest corner for sleep。 When he had acquired a nut； a kernel of corn； or a piece of fruit； he sat him down and examined it thoroughly and conscientiously and then； conscientiously and thoroughly； he devoured it。 No extraneous interest could distract his attention； not for a moment。 That he had sounded the seriousness of life is proved by the fact that he had observed and understood the flighty character of Funny Face。 When Funny Face acquired a titbit； Darwin took up a hump…backed position near at hand； his bright little eyes fixed on his friend's activities。 Funny Face would nibble relishingly at his prune for a moment or so； then an altogether astonishing butterfly would flitter by just overhead。 Funny Face； lost in ecstasy would gaze skyward after the departing marvel。 This was Darwin's opportunity。 In two hops he was at Funny Face's side。 With great deliberation； but most businesslike directness； Darwin disengaged Funny Face's unresisting fingers from the prune； seized it； and retired。 Funny Face never knew it； his soul was far away after the blazoned wonder； and when it returned； it was not to prunes at all。 They were forgotten； and his wandering eye focussed back to a bright button in the grass。 Thus by strict attention to business did Darwin prosper。
Darwin's attitude was always serious； and his expression grave。 When he condescended to romp with Funny Face one could see that it was not for the mere joy of sport； but for the purposes of relaxation。 If offered a gift he always examined it seriously bef
