LIONS. 165 



and seemed perplexed, looking round for her comrade. 

 I then thought it prudent to beat a retreat, which I 

 very slowly did, talking to the lioness all the time. 

 She seemed undecided as to her future movements, and 

 was gazing after me and snuffing the ground when I 

 last beheld her.' 



I copy the ensuing anecdote from Mr. Campbell's 

 Second Journey to Africa. l A lion had been near to a 

 bushman's hut the whole night, waiting, it was supposed, 

 for the arrival of his companions to assist in attacking 

 the family ; and if they had made the attack in conjunc- 

 tion with each other, it is probable they would have 

 met with success. Two Bootchuana herdsmen, attend- 

 ing near the place next morning, saw him and ran to 

 inform the people. On their way they met six Griquas 

 coming to attack the formidable creature, having already 

 heard he was there. Advancing towards him, they 

 fired, and wounded but did not disable him. Enraged 

 by pain, he advanced to take revenge on his assailants. 

 On seeing him approach, the Griquas leaped from their 

 horses, formed them into a close line with their tails to- 

 wards the lion, and took their stand at the horses' heads. 

 The enraged animal flew upon a Bootchuana who was 

 not protected by the horses, and who tried to defend 

 himself with his kaross or skin cloak. The lion, how- 

 ever, caught him by the arm, threw him on the ground ; 

 and while the poor man still tried to defend himself by 

 keeping the kaross round him, the lion got under it, 

 and gnawed part of his thigh. His Bootchuana com- 

 panion at that time threw his assagai, which entered the 

 lion's back. The Griquas would have fired, but were 

 afraid of shooting the man. In order then to drive him 

 away, they made a great noise, and threw some stones. 



