J2 HISTORY OF THE LION. 



Knowing that the lion, when he does not carry off his prey, 

 usually conceals himself in the vicinity, and is, moreover, 

 very apt to be dangerous, by prowling about the place in 

 search of more game, I resolved to have him destroyed 

 or dislodged without delay. I therefore sent a messenger 

 round the location, to invite all who were willing to assist 

 m the foray, to repair to the place of rendezvous as speedily 

 as possible. In an hour, nearly every man in the party 

 appeared, ready mounted and armed, with a reinforcement 

 of about a dozen Hottentots, who resided at that time upon 

 our territory, as tenants or herdsmen ; an active and enter- 

 prising, though rather unsteady race of men. 



" The first point was to track the lion to his covert, which 

 was effected by a few of the Hottentots on foot. Com- 

 mencing from the spot where the horse was killed, we 

 followed the spoor through grass, gravel, and brushwood, 

 with astonishing ease and dexterity, where an inexperienced 

 eye could discover neither foot-print nor mark of any kind; 

 until, at length, we fairly traced him into a large bosch, or 

 struggling thicket of brushwood and evergreens, about a 

 mile distant. 



" The next object was to drive him out of this retreat, in 

 order to' attack him in a close phalanx with more safety 

 and effect. The approved mode in these cases is to tor- 

 ment him with dogs till he abandons his covert, and stands 

 at bay in the open plain. The whole band of hunters then 

 march forward together, and fire deliberately, one by one, 

 till he falls : should he not, but grow angry and turn upon 

 his enemies, they must stand close in a circle, and turn 

 their horses' rear outward ; some holding them fast by the 

 bridles, while the others kneel to take a steady aim at the 

 lion as he approaches sometimes up to their very heels, 

 couching every now and then, as if to measure the distance 

 and strength of his enemies. This is the moment to shoot 

 him in the forehead, or some other mortal part. If they 



