430 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



slightest danger from lions, if he takes proper pre- 

 cautions, still, if you will shoot at them, and possibly in 

 doing so, wound them, look out, for you have a devil 

 incarnate to face, who will only be satisfied with your 

 heart's blood ! 



The artfulness of lions in effecting the capture of 

 their prey is very wonderful. The inferior races of 

 animals we accredit with instinct, yet deny them 

 reasoning powers. It requires a very acute dis- 

 crimination to tell where the one terminates and the 

 other begins ; nor have I found any one who would 

 instruct me on the subject. 



It is a well-known fact that the sense of smell pro^ 

 duces more fear in the animal creation than that of sight. 

 It may be accounted for in this way when they see a 

 danger they can avoid it by the employment of such 

 means as the Creator has given them ; but when they 

 scent it, they cannot tell how close or far off it may be 

 with any degree of certainty. 



However, this peculiarity the lion is well aware 

 of, and thus utilises it. I have said previously that 

 these animals nearly always hunt in troops, or parties, 

 of five, six, or seven. One of these is invariably a 

 mature male not unfrequently an old one. 



Night has set in, the weather is blustery, with 

 possibly rain, and all is dark as ink. The happy family 

 go forth. In their travels they discover a trader or 

 Boer outspanned. The cattle are tied up short to their 

 treck-tow, the end of which is made fast to a tree, and 

 the brake is tightly fastened on the hind wheels. The 

 marauders hold a consultation, and particularly note the 

 wind. Their plan of action is then brought into play. 

 The females and younger and more active males silently 



