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When the Creator made the hippopotamus he made a handsome creature indeed. The hippo had long beautiful hair of a gorgeous golden copper colour and as smooth as silk. After a while though the hippopotamus became very proud of his appearance to the point of becoming conceited. He wandered around the bush announcing to every creature that he met the he was the most handsome beast in all the world.
Though this may have been true, indeed it was true, the hippo's arrogance became very irritating to the other creatures of the bush. Eventually the scrub hare became so upset by the hippo laughing at his big ears and funny legs that he decided to take action. The scrub hare built a big straw hut by his house and furnished with comfortable leaves and grass. He was small and it took him a long time to build the hut which had to be large enough to be luxurious and comfortable for the hippopotamus. When it was finally finished, the scrub hare invited the hippo to stay for a day or two. The hippo saw the house and in his arrogance believed the hare had built him a well deserved tribute to his beauty. He walked straight in a settled down in great style. The scrub hare fetched him so much food that he soon became full and sleepy. As the night drew in and darkness settled over the bush the hippo slept
soundly, snoring in his lovely new rest house. The sun rose and lit up the sky and the hippo could finally see the horror of his appearance in his reflection on the water. All his beautiful hair was gone revealing an ugly pink and grey blotchy skin. The hippopotamus was devastated and resolved there and then that no-one would ever be allowed to see his new form - he would live in the river all day and only venture out at night. Now, when the crocodile heard of this he was not pleased and went to the Creator to consult. He was afraid the the large hippo would eat all the fish in the river leaving the other animals hungry. The creator went to the hippo who refused to leave the river and told him that if he ate any of the fish in the river he would be forced to live on the land and become the mockery of the bush. The hippopotamus promised that he would never eat any fish but the crocodile still was not satisfied and asked for a method of proof. So the creator said to the hippo that he was to distribute his pooh loosely through the water so that the crocodile could check it and see what the hippo had been eating. That is why the hippopotamus flaps his buttocks when he defecates. Well, that is how it was told to me. |
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© Afrikeye 1999 - 2007 (certain items under permission of original copyright owner) |
But suddenly his slumber was disturbed
by the smell of smoke and the crackle of flames all around him. The scrub hare
had set fire to the hut. The flames roared all about the hippo who panicked as
he felt the fire closing in and wailed and screamed for help. Suddenly the
noxious odour of burning hair filled the atmosphere causing the hippo to run
blindly through the flames and down into the river. There he stayed till dawn
nursing his burnt and hurting flesh.