SELECTING A LEADER. 101 



beard the oxen come trotting along in front of the 

 vehicle, us if sharply driven. On raising my head 

 from my pillow, I perceived a lioness following 

 within twenty yards of them, and next moment her 

 mate, a remarkable-looking lion, with a shaggv 

 mane which swept the ground, appeared in the 

 yellow grass in front of the oxen, waiting to put 

 them to flight. The plot had evidently been pre- 

 concerted between the pair, this being the usual 

 manner in which the lion attacks the buffalo. 

 Fortunately, the oxen would not run for them, and 

 the lions seemed surprised at the confidence of their 

 game." 



Elsewhere it is stated that when lions are 

 " trooped," and chased, or when they apprehend 

 danger, one of the number acts as sentinel to the 

 rest ; and if we are to give credit to what Moflatt 

 tells us, "on the authority of Africaner" (the famous 

 Xamaqua chief spoken of a few pages back) " and 

 other men of God, and men who have been expe- 

 rienced Ximrods," lions, on the occasion of these 

 their hunts, are also in the habit of selecting a 

 leader. 



"The old lion," said the chieftain in question, 

 "when with his 'children' (as the natives call his 

 whelps, though they be nearly as big as himself) 

 of course, acts in this capacity ; but when numbers 

 of lions are together, and happen t<> come on game, 

 the oldest or ablest creeps up to the object, whilst 

 the others crouch on the grass. If he be successful, 

 as is generally the case, he retires from the victim, 

 and lies down to breathe and rest, lor perhaps a 



