HIPPOPOTAMUS. We do not meet with this word in the Text of the Old Bochart. de animal. sacr. parte 2. l. 5. c. 15. Job xl. 10. הנה נא בהמותTestament. But as Bochart, and some others before him, have asserted, that the Hebrew Behemoth, which signifies Animals in general, did in particular denote the Hippopotamus, in the Text of Job, ch. xl. vs. 10, &c. we shall here give the description of it. The word Hippopotamus, according to the Greek import of it, signifies a River-horse. It is to be found principally in the Nile, in the Indus, and other great rivers. The feet of it are said to grow forked like an ox’s; in its back, mane, and tail it resembles an horse, and neighs like one. It has the teeth of a boar, but not so sharp; its hide, when it is not moistened, resists all sorts of weapons.
Thevenot, who had seen one, describes it Thevenot. Voyage, partie 2. c. 72.after the following manner: It is as it were of a dun colour, and resembles a buffle very much behind; but its legs are shorter and larger. It is about the size of a camel, and its muzzle like that of an ox. The body of it is twice as large as an ox’s, its head like that of an horse, its eyes and ears small, its nostrils very wide, has no chest, its feet very big, and almost round, with four claws on each, like those of a crocodile, the tail small like that of an elephant, the skin bare, and almost without hair. In its lower jaw, it has four great teeth half a foot long, two whereof are hooked, and about the size of an ox’s horns. It has one on each side its mouth: the two others which are strait, jut forward, and grow long out of its mouth. It was killed with musket-shot by some Janizaries, who found it upon land where it was come to feed. They shot at it several times without piercing through its skin; but at last, being wounded in the jaw, it fell.
This Author confesses, that many took this Animal for a Sea-buffle, but he with some others discovered it to be a Sea-horse: yet I question whether this is the true Hippopotamus. However, let this be as it will, we have interpreted the Hebrew, Behemoth, by Elephant. The Reader may see what we have said of it under the Title belonging to it. Some are of opinion, that the species of the Hippopotami is extinct in the Nile.