THE LION COUNTRY 



our camp on the right bank of the Sungwe. I indicated 

 the place for the tent under the shade of a large tree, 

 and there also fixed positions for a shelter for the men, 

 a drying-place for skins, and the kitchens, surrounding 

 the whole with a thick hedge of thorns about 13 feet 

 high. Access is obtained by an opening which can be 

 closed at will by placing an acacia in the aperture. 

 It is a necessary precaution in a country frequented 

 by man-eaters, especially when one has to spend some 

 time in the same place. 



This work being finished, I paid the coolies and 

 dismissed them together with the sepoy who had 

 accompanied us, only keeping ten negroes with me. 

 In the afternoon I went out and killed a waterbuck 

 and a gnu. I left half of the latter animal as a bait. 

 During the night we heard lions on all sides. I listened 

 attentively to their roaring to ascertain in which 

 direction they were going to sleep. Indeed, in the 

 tendos in winter lions do not hunt like they do in the 

 forest. In the evening they come out of their retreats, 

 where they have spent the day in the shade. After 

 they have drunk, they pursue in bands the herds of 

 antelopes, dividing the spoil between them. They 

 eat their fill of meat, and at dawn, being gorged, go 

 to drink again. Roaring with triumph, they return 

 to their shelters in the woods before the sun gets hot. 

 For those acquainted with their habits, the following 

 is the best method of killing them. One must visit 

 their favourite watering-place, and having ascertained 



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