196 SPORT IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 



March 28th. The night passed without further 

 incident. At daybreak a small male reedbuck passed 

 in front of the machan, much exercised at the sight of 

 the lioness. I descended from the machan and found 

 that the bullet had passed right through the brain. 

 This was not a good shot, as I had aimed at the point 

 of the shoulder, but as she had been lying almost 

 facing me, it was only a few inches out. As the men 

 came up they drove what looked like a fair-sized 

 reedbuck right past the back of the machan, but I 

 did not get a shot owing to the grass. I returned to 

 camp, seeing nothing save oribi and femafe reedbuck 

 on the way ; but as I wanted meat for the men, I 

 returned with the camel, and got within 30 yards of a 

 buck rufifrons gazelle. The shot passed through the 

 withers, and as K. was leisurely disencumbering him- 

 self of his cartridge-bag, etc., the gazelle found its feet 

 again, and started to bolt. However, I was prepared 

 for this emergency, and knocked it over for good with 

 a second shot. The horns measured lOf inches, and it 

 precisely resembled a gazelle bagged on the Settit, 

 except that the weight was only 56 Ib. The lioness 

 measured 8 feet 2 inches and weighed 257 Ib. and 

 although apparently mature was much spotted. 

 She contained two cubs, male and female, just 

 ready to be born. The rest of the day was spent 

 over the skins. In the evening I proceeded to 

 the machan, seeing oribi and gazelle on the way. 



