Hippopotamus hunt on the Plettenberg River, South Africa
Gordon, R.J.
Hippo hunt on the Plettenberg River, near what is today known as Boesmanshoed.
In the centre of the picture a river divides the land.
Hippopotami are depicted bathing in the river.
Left of the river and in the foreground Europeans and an African are depicted shooting at the hippopotami.
To the right of the river a span of oxen is being pulled forward, simultaneously being driven with lashes of a whip.
Also to the right of the river we can see Europeans shooting at the hippopotami with guns as well as an encampment of tents flying the Dutch tricolour.
The illustration depicts a mountain range in the background, with the mountain in the centre being named as [de mosqueeberg].
Above [de mosqueeberg] is inscribed [Gordons keer om bergen in 1777.].
The caption to the picture reads: Gesigt van de Plettebergs Rivier op de Z: breete van 31gr: 69t lengte Oost van de Caap: met het Camp en de Plaats alwaar ik den Heer Gouverneur A [?] 1778 bragt, alwaar ik s' Jaars te voren 9 Hippopotamussen, of hier te lande, sogenaamde Zeekoeien, geschoten had; en alwaar alstoen door den Gouverneur en sijn escorte, in den tijdt van drie a vier uuren, 22 dieren doodgeschoten wierden, sonder de minste gevaar danger; dus al het geen Sparman in sijne beschijving van de Caap segt omtrent het gevaar in de Jagt dier dieren, sprookjes sijn..
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