THE ENDLESS VELDT 153 



the tribe. We exchanged greetiDgs, then he told me 

 he left the manyatta with his charges at dawn, fed 

 them during the long, hot days, took them to drink 

 before sunset and returned them to the thorn inclosed 

 village just before dark. When I asked him what he 

 would do if lions attacked his cattle, he replied he 

 would shout and try to scare them away, and if they 

 failed to run he would I He added that when he grew 

 big enough to handle the "white spear" he would then 

 rush at them and if they would not leave, he would 

 kill them with the spear. 



One of my outstanding memories of the Tanganyika 

 veldt is the scene indehbly pictured on my mind of 

 looking over the backs of hons to see in the distance 

 one of these Httle boys leaning upon his spear, a lonely 

 sentinel silhouetted against the African sky. 



After lunch we returned to the donga, collecting 

 another wildebeest enroute. Our arrival was the 

 signal for eight hons to make their appearances. Six 

 of them belonged to our old troop and these had 

 brought along two new Honesses for our approval. 



Lions seem to be very affectionate in their home 

 life. We noticed that whenever new members would 

 join our troop the others would go to meet them, 

 rubbing noses with the newcomers. African hunters 

 tell you that when a Hon is killed, its mate will hang 

 about the place for several days, roaring and kicking 

 up an awful racket each night until fully satisfied that 

 the lost companion will not return. They seem to be 

 thinking beasts, for no animal could do the things 

 they accomphsh without thought. One day they 

 took a spare tire off the truck and had a great time 

 with it. This incident made a cute scene, but although 



