HIPPO'S HOLIDAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1932, Page 17

HIPPO'S HOLIDAY

The Huberts of "Htiberia Goes South," by Heaiey A. Chilyers, was an itinerant hippopotamus who for reasons given by her biographer was never familiar, with or friendly to man, but nevertheless established a claim on him for such meals as she required. Before her_ end came she had made herself, unassisted, as much a national figure in South Africa.. as .Jumbo was in England; and when she was' done to death "the anger_ of the official world was echoed in Parliament and, Press." Mr. Chilvers suggests that Huberta may have fled in panic from her native river in Zulula'nd after seeing her mother slaughtered.l At any rate it seems to be established that this extraordinary animal crossed; the Tugela late' in 1928, "and in the course of some thirty months of harmless vagabondage through ports and settled communities reached the Keiskama Eiver"—sso miles as the bird flies from her starting place. It was not. long before her movements were regarded as matter tor the local Court circular;1 and there is no reason to doubt that many of those. ascribed to her by Mr. Chilvers are -authentic—how she scared a bibulous and benighted i tramp: how she held up a train: how- she discovered the band ' that was playing Tchaikovsky 's "1812" in. aid of 'church funds. Mr. Chilvers, cleverly weaves into the log of her journey the history of theplaces 6ho traversed. • ■''■■■'■:

There is an account appended of the animal sanctuaries and retierves of South Africa, this part of the book being the work of C. Selwyn'Stokes.

Lord "Wakefiold has -offered a gold, medal for the best essay written by a mombov of tlio Institute of the Motor Trade -oiv "The Characteristics:1 of a buecessful .Business in 1940."