LIONS. 59 



inhabitants of a rough but strong cage of bush 

 scrub, in which they dwelt for some months, and 

 grew before reaching Port Elizabeth to the size 

 of large mastiffs. There they were bought by 

 an American skipper, and realised fifty guineas. 



The last time I came into unpleasant contact 

 with a lion occurred some eight years ago in the 

 Setabi country, Zoutpansberg district, when re- 

 turning from a very poor hunting trip, during which 

 I had lost a number of trek oxen, my only horse, 

 and five donkeys from local disease. All the rest 

 looked half starved, although the whole country 

 was covered with grass varying from a foot to seven 

 feet high. Some Boer hunters we met with had 

 Heen even more unfortunate in these respects ; 

 moreover, several of their number were down with 

 fever, and one died. His grave I helped to dig, 

 and noticed that the soil, although perfectly dry, 

 emitted a vile smell when disturbed. 



There was a fair enough show of game, consist- 

 ing of a few elephants, rhinoceros, buffaloes, sable 

 antelopes, ostriches, pallahs, and others of smaller 

 note. Giraffes, too, abounded, and the Boers 

 massacred twenty-four in one day, wasting most 

 of the meat of course, as few or no natives inhabit 



