100 THE LION. 



by the women) appeared ready mounted and armed, 

 We were also reinforced by about a dozen of tbe 

 Bastard Hottentots, who resided at that time upon 

 our territory, as tenants or herdsmen ; an active and 

 enterprising, though rather an unsteady race of men. 



" The first point was to track the lion to his co- 

 vert. This was effected by a few of the Hottentots 

 on foot. Commencing from the spot where the 

 horse was killed, we followed the spoor through 

 grass, and gravel, and brushwood, with astonishing 

 ease and dexterity, where an inexperienced eye 

 could discern neither foot-print nor mark of any 

 kind ; until, at length, we fairly tracked him into a 

 large bosch, or straggling thicket of brushwood and 

 evergreens, about a mile distant. 



" The next object was to drive him out of this 

 retreat, in order to attack him in a close phalanx, 

 with more safety and effect. The approved mode 

 in such cases is to torment him with dogs till he 

 abandons his covert, arid stands at bay in the open 

 plain. The whole band of hunters then march for- 

 ward together, and fire deliberately one by one. If 

 he does not speedily fall, but grows angry, and turns 

 upon his enemies, they must stand close in a circle, 

 and turn their horse's rear outward ; some holding 

 them fast by the bridles, while the others kneel to 

 take a steady aim at the lion as he approaches, some- 

 times up to the very horses' heels, couching every 

 now and then, as if to measure the distance and 

 strength of his enemies. This is the moment to 



