THE LION 237 



there is nothing of the majestic about him indeed he even com- 

 pares unfavourably with a rhinoceros, which, as it trots away 

 with tail held erect, has the merit of looking defiant, if not 

 altogether dignified. Perhaps lions are seen at their worst after 

 being wounded and brought to bay, when as they lie crouching 

 flat to the earth, with head slightly raised, ears held back, and 

 mouth open, giving vent to low snarling growls, they by no 

 means present- a noble or awe-inspiring appearance. In East 

 Africa the lion is essentially a game-killer. There are, how- 

 ever, a few cases on record of lions having turned cattle-killers ; 

 but I am inclined to think that in most instances they have 

 been driven to it by force of circumstances, on account of 

 the scarcity and wildness of the game. As I have said else- 

 where, nearly all the game-beasts migrate from their favourite 

 haunts where they have been concentrated in large herds as 

 long as food was plentiful. Between March and the end of 

 July they disperse, many of them work their way towards the 

 coast, become scattered over a much larger area, and are found 

 in smaller herds. These herds of game are naturally followed by 

 the lions, some of which doubtless stray away occasionally from 

 where the game is to be found, and are driven to killing cattle, or 

 donkeys, or whatever else they come across. Within the last 

 ten years several lions have strayed as far as Mombasa, and 

 have even crossed over from the mainland to the island, where 

 they have done considerable damage amongst the cattle, &c. 

 In 1887 a large lion which had been on the island for several 

 months was killed within 200 yards of the town by Count 

 E. de Kegl, who tied up a bullock as a bait and shot the lion 

 from a tree at night. Another one was killed early in the 

 year 1893. In Ukambani and the Masai country a few cattle 

 are occasionally carried off by lions, but I do not think this 

 is a common occurrence. I have never heard of any well- 

 authenticated instance of lions becoming man-eaters, though I 

 know of two cases in which a porter has disappeared on the 

 march, and on men being sent back next morning to look for 

 him, they only found his remains, and reported the spoor of a 



