XIII MAN-EATING LIONS 273 



to mere stumps, and there is no doubt that the 

 infirmities of old age, and the lack of strength 

 requisite to catch and kill wild animals, had driven 

 her to attack a human being. 



In 1879, '^•'lother case occurred at Tati of a man 

 being killed by a lion, which I will here relate as I 

 heard it from my friends Messrs. Brown and Phillips. 

 A young Matabele warrior belonging to the Imbezo 

 regiment having fled from the harsh rule of Lobengula, 

 was on his way to join Kuruman, a chief living in the 

 Rustenburg district of the Transvaal, and claiming to 

 be the eldest son of Umziligazi, and the true heir to 

 the Matabele throne. He was accompanied in his 

 flight by the girl of his choice, who was, like him- 

 self, a true Matabele of pure Zulu blood. Upon 

 reaching Tati, he did not go to the houses, as he 

 feared to meet other Matabele, who might recognise 

 him as a fugitive, but crossed the river which runs 

 below them at a distance of about 200 yards. In 

 the evening, leaving the girl concealed amongst the 

 bushes on the farther bank of the river, he went and 

 explained his circumstances to Mr. Brown, who gave 

 him some food. It happened that my friend was 

 upon the point of making a journey to the Transvaal, 

 and had his waggon ready loaded up for an early 

 start the following morning. Seeing this, the fugitive 

 begged to be allowed to accompany him as far as 

 Bamangwato, and his request being granted, he tied 

 his shield on to the waggon, and saying he would 

 join my friend the following moriiing along the road, 

 recrossed the river. About midnight the half-dozen 

 white men who were then at Tati were awakened by 

 loud shrieks and wails of "Mai-mamo ! mai-milmo!" 

 (The lion has taken my man ! the lion has killed my 

 man !) Rushing out to see what was the matter, 



T 



