102 SPORT IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 



3 p.m. As lions were reputed numerous, we put up 

 a zareba, and so to bed considerably tired. 



December 10th. Went out in early morning to look 

 for lion, but could find no tracks. Saw one female 

 Heuglin and the tracks of a big leopard a mile or so 

 down-stream from camp. The whole place eaten 

 down by goats and cattle and not at all promising- 

 looking for game. In afternoon made a machan in 

 tree over meshra where I had seen leopard-track, and 

 there caught a couple of small fish. In the evening 

 sat up in machan. Heard some animal come along 

 under nabbuk. After an hour or so, out rushed the 

 leopard on to the kid. The first shot was a clean 

 miss, and the leopard retreated under the machan. 

 Presently out he came again and seized the goat by 

 the neck, but let go on feeling the drag of the rope. 

 There was a half moon, and a second shot knocked 

 him over, growling. As he moved again after a couple 

 of minutes I gave him another right and left from the 

 350, and he lay still. Within a quarter of an hour up 

 came a hyaena, and after sniffing the goat, rushed at 

 the leopard with a growl, when I fired to save the 

 skin, and made a clear miss. The hyaena vanished, 

 but returned most persistently, and I had to shout at 

 it several tunes to keep it from biting the leopard. 

 Finally, a strong body of men turned up from the 

 camp, expecting to find two lions at least, and we 

 carried off the leopard a small male of 84 lb., measur- 

 ing 6 feet 8 inches. 



