CITASSE 1)Y THE NATIVES. 14 



on the Cape Colony, Delegorgue tells us, are per- 

 fectly well aware. And should the beast be met 

 with at such times, they, presuming on his blind- 

 ness, fearlessly attack him. Their plan of proceed- 

 ing is as ingenious as daring : 



O CD O 



" One of them, carrying a large shield of a con- 

 cave form, made of thick buffalo hide, approaches 

 the animal boldly, and hurls at him an assegai, or 

 javelin. The lion bounds on the aggressor, but the 

 man in the meauwhile has thrown himself at full 

 length on the ground, covered by his buckler. 

 Whilst the beast is trying the effect of his claws 

 and teeth on the concave side of the shield, where 

 they make no impression, lie loses a favourable 

 opportunity. He redoubles his efforts. And in the 

 meantime the armed men surround him, and pierce 

 his body with numerous assegais, all of which he 

 fancies he receives from the individual lying beneath 

 the shield. The assailants retire, the lion grows 

 faint, and soon falls beside the CafFre with the 

 buckler, who takes care not to move until the 

 terrible brute has ceased to exhibit signs of life." 



In other parts of the country the natives form a 

 ring, in the old Scottish fashion, around the lion, 

 and attack him on all sides. 



Harris, when speaking of a hunt of this kind, 

 says: " In accordance with African caprice, which 

 assigns a parasol to the male instead of the female 

 sex, the sons of the desert are on these occasions 

 provided with a long pointed stall', surmounted with 

 black ostrich feathers, which then prove very ser- 

 viceable ; for being stuck in the ground at the 



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