SPORT IN MOZAMBIQUE 



which I had had cleaned yesterday by my best tracker, 

 Godonga, being unable to undertake this task myself 

 on account of the preparation of the specimens I had 

 brought. I arrive at a small clearing, and perceive, 

 at a distance of ten yards a lion and lioness devouring 

 a carcase. I take aim at the lion and press the 

 trigger ; the click of the lock makes itself heard, 

 but there is no report. At the noise the lions bound 

 off and disappear in a thicket of tall grass which had 

 not been burnt. I utter an oath of disappointment, 

 and, lo ! another lioness, which I had not seen, 

 jumped up not far from the carcase and disappeared. 

 I send after her, at hazard, a shot which does not 

 touch her. As I am about to extract the empty 

 cartridge-case, the extractor refuses to act. The 

 prey of the lions was my waterbuck, which, in escaping 

 me, fled into their ambuscade. The lions, after having 

 strangled and opened the animal, had extracted the 

 stomach and viscera, and dragged them to a distance 

 without rending them. 



Excited by this ill-luck, I continue the hunt, which 

 brings me two waterbucks. This antelope, of striking 

 appearance, is still common in the district. One 

 is almost sure to encounter it in the neighbourhood 

 of the water-courses, and especially near the marshes, 

 where it loves to browse on the leaves of the water- 

 plants. Its long, coarse hair is brown and grey. The 

 buttocks are marked by an elliptical white band. 

 The male alone carries ringed horns, which may 



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