200 SPORT IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 



only some 20 yards wide, were the remains of the ariel, 

 and convenient stood a heglek tree sufficient for a 

 machan. Accordingly I erected the machan and electric 

 light, and returned to camp in time for tea at 4 p.m. 

 I then went back to the machan and tied the meat on 

 to a tree, so that the rope was concealed. Whilst 

 making final arrangements a leopard roared within 

 200 yards, and I was more than ever sure that the 

 culprit was a leopard. Nothing, however, occurred 

 until it was quite dark, and I was afraid that the 

 wary brute had again detected me ; but at 7 p.m. 

 I suddenly heard the crunching of bones, and 

 looking down was just able to see the outline of a 

 large animal upon the kill. I aligned my -500 

 Express, and turned on the light, when I saw a 

 lioness eating the kill. She took not the faintest 

 notice of the light, and I fired for the shoulder. She 

 was obviously hit very hard, but staggered into the 

 fringe of nabbuk, growling loudly. The cracking of 

 bushes continued for 30 yards or so to my left, and 

 then all noise ceased. 



April 1st. The remainder of the night passed with- 

 out incident, and I awoke with a headache. Finally 

 I descended from the machan and went a short 

 distance into the bushes. The tracks were clear 

 enough, but the bush very thick indeed, so that I very 

 soon came out again. My men came up in good time, 

 having, of course, heard the shot, and we then took 



