Mr Leslie on Lion-kuntiiig in South Africa. 68 



recognised at that time by Grovernment. The character of tl^ 

 scenery was somewhat pecuHar : vast plains or flats extended in 

 all directions, bare and sandy, rarely presenting a green blade 

 of verdure to the weary eye; these plains were enriched or in- 

 tersected by ranges of low table mountains, whose sides and 

 summits were equally divested of all vegetation ; and in passing 

 over the country, as you crossed the lower ridge of some of 

 these hills, a prospect of the same monotonous and barren ex- 

 tent was presented to the view. It was seldom we met with a 

 human habitation, and nought enlivened the dreary scene, save 

 the various species of antelope and quagga abounding in these 

 plains, who, frightened at the appearance of man, ran widely 

 off in every direction. At a distance they might have been 

 sometimes taken for vast herds of sheep, and droves of cattle. If 

 a boor's dwelling happened to be in the neighbourhood, these 

 dwellings were always erected on the banks of some rivulet or 

 spring, where there might be a sufficient supply of water for 

 their flocks, and to irrigate a few limited roods of land to grow 

 vegetables and tobacco for themselves. In the drier seasons, 

 however, these almost pastoral farmers were obliged to forsake 

 their more permanent abodes, and something like the Israelites 

 in the desert, betake themselves to tents, and with their flocks, 

 wander over the sandy waste in search of pasturage for their 

 sheep and cattle. While encamped in these open plains, their 

 craals or folds were frequently disturbed by the midnight visit 

 of the lion ; and their only escape from his attacks was in the 

 discovery of his retreat and his destruction. His usual prey 

 was the quagga or the antelope ; but the fleetness of tliese ani- 

 mals, or their instinctive precautions perhaps, gave them more 

 security than the feeble defences of a crowded craal. 



It was on these occasions that I witnessed the mode in which 

 the Boor discovered and rid himself of his troublesome neio-h- 



o 



hour, as the officer commanding was applied to, and most 

 willingly granted the assistance of a few men, whom we were 

 delighted to accompany. It has been frequently asserted that 

 the lion is not the magnanimous and courageous animal that he 

 was formerly described to be, and I see that Dr Philip, in his 

 researches, has related the facility with which the Bosjcsmans, 



