-* More Lion-Hunting Experiences 



use of strychnine;, with which they have poisoned the 

 remains of animals killed by lions. 



In 1900 I had an encounter with three lions, which 

 might easily have: proved fatal to me. After a march of 

 nearly ten hours in the driest season, my caravan had 

 come to the foot of a hill and my tired men had pitched 

 camp. Following the course: ot a stream, I went out tor 

 a short walk round the camp, armed, contrary to my 

 usual custom, with only a fowling-piece. A number ot 

 bald fruit-pigeons (I'iiiago calra nudirostris] presently 

 caught my attention, and I went after several, which 

 were perched upon the branches of a lot ot truit-trees in 

 the thick brushwood ot" the river-banks. Thus occupied 

 I had strayed about a thousand paces from the camp, 

 which was now out ot" sight. The pigeons were very shy. 

 Suddenly I came upon the tracks ot several lions. 



Almost involuntarily I followed these tor a couple ot 

 hundred yards or so, and was just about to make my way 

 down into the dried-up bed of a freshet, which acts as a 

 tributary to the stream in the rainy season, when I became 

 conscious of a shadow to my left. Turning round. 1 beheld 

 a lioness twenty-live paces oft, eyeing me quietly. She 

 stood in a small glade in the thorn-thicket, and 1 concluded 

 that she had made a resting-place tor herself among the 

 dense green grass by the side of the stream. Almost simul- 

 taneously 1 saw, six or eight paces Irom her. two other lions 

 moving forward, halt covered by the grass. All three 

 formed a most impressive sight, witnessed thus from so near. 



1'or several seconds neither 1 nor the lions made a 

 move I bitterl rerettin that I had brought onl m 



