190 SPORT IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 



was only my certainty of having hit her that led to 

 our finding her at all, as in no place was there blood 

 enough to cover a threepenny-piece. We then padded 

 the two lionesses on camels, and made a royal 

 progress through Hawata, the women of the town 

 singing songs in my honour, for which I paid them 

 two dollars. The larger lioness measured 8 feet 

 2| inches, and weighed 275 lb., and the smaller 7 feet 

 7 inches, and weighed 182 lb. I gave away over 7 on 

 the spot in the way of rewards, with the result that 

 some of my camel-men disappeared at once, instead 

 of helping with the skins. The balance of the day 

 was, of course, spent over the skins. Towards 

 sunset I got down to the machan with a fresh goat, 

 and tied the dead goat on to the end of the same 

 rope, as my shikaris had a theory that the smell 

 might attract the lions. For a long time the new goat 

 declined to bleat, but at last it commenced, and within 

 five minutes I heard footsteps right under my machan, 

 and presently the head of a young male lion be- 

 came just visible underneath. Instead of springing 

 on to the goat, he appeared to be prospecting the 

 neighbourhood, and at last looked up directly at me. 

 I remained quite still, and he did not take alarm, 

 but walked to the left, past the goat, without attempt- 

 ing to attack, and seemed as if he meant to walk right 

 off. I was therefore compelled to lean forward and 

 take a somewhat hurried shot just before he dis- 



