Page "Hippopotamus" Paragraph 61

Hippos have been the subjects of various African folktales.

According to a Bushmen story ; when the Creator assigned each animal their place in nature, the hippos wanted to live in the water, but were refused out of fear that they might eat all the fish.

After begging and pleading, the hippos were finally allowed to live in the water on the conditions that they would eat grass instead of fish and would fling their dung so that it can be inspected for fish bones.

In a Ndebele tale, the hippo originally had long, beautiful hair but was set on fire by a jealous hare and had to jump into a nearby pool.

The hippo lost most of his hair and was too embarrassed to leave the water.