152 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



warning of his proximity would not have sent the 

 blood-thirsty saurians off, if it had not been backed 

 up with the assistance of my rifle. 



As may be, imagined, I had enough of fishing for 

 that day. Further, it is doubtless the case that, the 

 arrival of one of these loathsome beasts on the scene 

 of my sport, was the cause why the mahseer had 

 discontinued to take my bait. 



As a question might arise whether the fish I am 

 speaking of is properly named, I have only to say 

 that the positions of their fins are identical with 

 those of the fish I have captured in India, and which 

 is called mahseer. Whether they have respectively 

 the same number of spines in each fin I cannot assert ; 

 but this I know, the mouth and eyes are alike in 

 both, while the scales are almost identical in their 

 situation and consistency."" 



The lioness again came into camp, and carried off 

 a hind-quarter of one of the Harris buck I had shot 

 earlier in the day. As lately I have been so worried 

 and upset, I cannot sit up for her, for the reason 

 that I desire as much sleep as I can obtain. Under 

 ordinary circumstances I should hesitate to adopt 

 the plan I am about to pursue for her destruction. 

 It is not a sportsman-like proceeding, I am well 

 aware of ; but the provocation must be remembered. 



* Since then I have captured numbers of these fish in the 

 upper waters of the Limpopo. They are called by the Boers 

 and traders " big scales." 



