DEATH OF A LION SCHEPPMANSDOKF. 41 



At length all the baggage was safely deposited at Schepp- 

 mansdorf, where I rejoined Mr. Galton. 



He had not, I found, been many days at that place, when 

 a magnificent lion suddenly appeared one night in the midst 

 of the village. A small dog, that had incautiously approach- 

 ed the beast, paid the penalty of its life for its daring. The 

 next day a grand chase was got up, but the lion, being on 

 his guard, managed to elude his pursuers. The second day, 

 however, he was killed by Messrs. Galton and Bam ; and, 

 on cutting him up, the poor dog was found, still undigested, 

 in his stomach, bitten into five pieces. 



The natives highly rejoiced at the successful termination 

 of the hunt ; for this lion had proved himself to be one of 

 the most daring and destructive ever known, having, in a 

 short time, killed upward of fifty oxen, cows, and horses. 

 Though he had previously been chased, he had always 

 escaped unscathed, and every successive attack made upon 

 him only served to increase his ferocity. 



I regretted much being prevented from taking part in so 

 interesting and exciting an event, but, on the other hand, I 

 felt pleased that my friend had thus early had an opportunity 

 of exercising his skill on one of the most noble and dreaded 

 of the animal creation. My turn was yet to come. 



Scheppmansdorf — Roebank — ^Abbanhous — as it is indiffer- 

 ently called — was first occupied as a missionary station in 

 the year 1846, by the Rev. IMr. Scheppman, from whom it 

 takes its name. It is situated on the left bank of the River 

 Kuisip, and immediately behind rise enormous masses and 

 ridges of sand. The Kuisip is a periodical stream, and is 

 dependent on the rains in the interior ; but, from the great 

 uncertainty of this supply, and the absorbing nature of the 

 soil, it is seldom that it reaches "Walfisch Bay, where it has 

 its estuary. On our arrival, the Kuisip had not flowed for 

 years ; but when it does send down its mighty torrent, it 

 fertilizes and changes the aspect of the country to a wonder- 



