ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN LION. 249 



of these people have fearful gashes on their face a 

 wound that looks as if the cheek had been torn off and 

 such, in fact, is the case. The unfortunate has been lying 

 asleep on the velt by his fire, when the cowardly skulker 

 has stolen upon him, and, with the rapidity of lightning, 

 and a force that is irresistible, torn off the victim's cheek. 

 These depredations are to be attributed to the large 

 spotted hysena, a beast that sometimes attains the height 

 of a small donkey. 



Before continuing my narrative, let me see what 

 that apostolic man, David Livingstone, has to tell us 

 yi his " Travels in Africa " about the character of the 

 South African lion. 



"The Bakatla of the village Mabatsa were much 

 troubled with lions, which leaped into their cattle-pens 

 by night, and destroyed their cows. They even attacked 

 the herds in open day. This was so unusual an occurrence, 

 that the people believed that they were bewitched 

 ' given/ as they said, * into the power of the lions by a 

 neighbouring tribe.' They went once to attack the 

 animals, but, being rather a cowardly people compared 

 to Bechuanas in general on such occasions, they returned 

 without killing any." 



Now these Bakatla were a peaceable, almost effeminate 

 people, who supported themselves by their cattle and 

 agriculture, and had lately suffered much from raids 

 made upon them by their more warlike neighbours. The 

 result was that many were driven off into the desert, 

 wounded and starving, to become a prey to wild beasts. 

 Thus the audacity of these lions is easily accounted for. 



Again, " It is well known that if one in a troop of 

 lions is killed, the others take the hint, and leave that 

 part of the country." 



