SPORT IN MOZAMBIQUE 



first lion. I saw, indeed, on the bank of the M'sicatzi, 

 traces of a large party of lions which habitually drink 

 at this river. Arriving at dawn in a deep defile about 

 80 yards from my bait, I saw eight lions there. Two 

 big males and a lioness were lying down, these were 

 the farthest away from me. Three lionesses were 

 sitting up in different attitudes, while two cubs were 

 growling and disputing over a bone. Three jackals 

 were to be seen in the distance. 



I quickly dispatched one lioness with a bullet in 

 the neck. At the sound of the shot they all sprang 

 up growling, looking to see from whence they are 

 attacked, as I am hidden in order to reload. A second 

 bullet in the same place lays another lioness beside 

 the first. This time three lions saw me, these being 

 the two males and a female, which immediately 

 turned tail and fled ; the lioness and the two cubs, 

 being less cautious, came straight towards me. I 

 raised myself and the lioness perceived me ; she 

 crouched a moment, then sprang up and charged 

 with tail straight out and ears laid back, growling 

 angrily. The cubs followed. A shot in the chest 

 brought down the incensed mother. The cubs stopped 

 near her, growling and showing their teeth. As I 

 had only two cartridges left, I took the precaution 

 of reloading and in two shots sent the two young ones, 

 which were already fair-sized, to rejoin their mother. 

 After having photographed the scene, I put all hands 

 on to help skin them; it was nearly midday before 



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