12 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



on her hind legs, with one fore foot extended upwards 

 and leaning against a tree, endeavouring with her 

 other paw to hook down the meat we had placed for 

 safety in its forks. Selwin and I fired at her, but 

 without effect. Our reception, however, caused her 

 to depart ; but in half-an-hour more the vixen was 

 back at her old game. Dillon and I now gave her 

 a salute. The fire had blazed up a little better at 

 the moment, so our chance of shooting correctly 

 was increased, the result being that her ladyship got 

 both balls, where we could not say, but, much 

 to our relief, she departed, not to return. Sunday 

 vowed if we hit her she would charge into the hut. 

 Why she did not do so goodness only knows. My 

 later experience has taught me that such a course is 

 usually to be expected from a wounded lion. 



A tributary river here reaches the Saabin, in a 

 succession of long, almost currentless reaches, 

 flowing though rich alluvial soil, with generally 

 deep precipitous banks. Where these do not 

 exist the stream is margined by dense, lofty, inter- 

 laced reeds ; along the edge of the water is a 

 heavy growth of timber ; outside that is as fine a 

 veldt — here and there studded with a few trees and 

 occasional patches of brush — as could be found for 

 hunting purposes in any part of Africa. In my 

 opinion this portion of the country does not get 

 burnt up like the higher veldt of the Transvaal in 

 summer, but remains green throughout the year — 



