IN THE LION COUNTRY. 621 



as they were conversant with ; in the mean time ordering all my at- 

 tendants from under the wagon, directing them at the same time to 

 pile on more fuel so as to make a blaze as soon a- possible. 



Dark as the night was, all were busy around the little encamp- 

 ment, if I except the dogs, who seemed to be possessed of such 

 timidity that neither word- nor blows could drive them out from the 

 shelter they had taken between the wheels. For some minutes all 

 had become quiet, and I commenced to hope that it had been a false 

 alarm, when a roar bo loud and close as to awake the echoes of the 

 surrounding koppies broke the monotonous stillnes- of the night. 

 Such a roar I have never heard previously or since ; let him that likes 

 say what he may, it made the earth tremble. To the reader it may 

 appear impossible that any animal can produce a volume of sound 

 that almost rivals the thunder in its density ; but let me assure him, 

 if he has heard a mature male lion, in the full vigor of his life, give 

 utterance to his wrath, he will agree with me that there are a sublim- 

 ity and grandeur in the voice, which, if they do not equal the depth 

 and power of thunder, very nearly approaches to it. 



If quiet had comparatively reigned before, now all was excitement. 

 To and fro the bullocks rushed, trvinc- to break their rheimg. the horses 

 reared and pulled upon their halters as if determined to strangle them- 

 selves, or upset the wagon, while every native who was not armed 

 seized a fire-brand and shouted and called to mv animals to endeavor 

 to still their fears. 80 intense was the darkness that nothing could 

 be seen, yet William fired a couple of shots in the direction from 

 which he imagined the sound proceeded. The blaze and report of his 

 heavy elephant gun, one would imagine, would have driven off any- 

 thing in the form of a quadruped ; but not so : the lion roared again 

 at even shorter distance than at first, causing the bullocks to become 

 frantic with fear, and therefore to use their utmost power and strength 

 to break loose. 



I thought I could trust mv rheimg. but alas ! I was in error, for 

 one more violent struggle than had previously been made took place, 

 and thev grave way, and the whole team went down to leeward as if 

 they were stampeding before a forest fire. As the method (for it cer- 

 tainly is a preconcerted and arranged plan) adopted by lions when 

 about to attack a span of cattle may not be known generally, I will 

 briefly attempt to describe it. Lions, as a rule, hunt in family parties. 

 A very old male, not unfrequently incapacitated from taking an active 

 part in pursuing game, is generally to be found at the head of this 

 coterie, and on him devolves no unimportant part of the programme 

 adopted by them when a trader's or traveler's cattle are resolved upon 

 as the victims of their ferocity and power. 



Down to leeward, a hundred or more paces below where the bul- 

 locks are made fast, the young, active males and lionesses place them- 

 selves behind what available cover is to be found. This being: done, 



