298 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



on board the steamer the cages were placed opposite 

 each other, with the doors open in between, so that 

 they could be together ; and people were very kind in 

 giving them toys to play with. They were catholic 

 in their tastes, and accepted everything from pyjamas 

 to helmets, though the latter were the greatest prize, 

 for it was more fun ripping the pith in pieces. They 

 made their own beds out of straw envelopes in which 

 bottles are packed, and they loved pulling these, one 

 at each end, just like boys in a tug -of- war. The 

 butcher was in charge, and they soon got fond of him. 

 He was very good to them, and they feasted like the 

 little kings they were, off liver one day, beef the next, 

 then chicken, mutton, turkey ; and when we arrived 

 at Southampton the butcher gave me a large packet 

 of bones that they might have their breakfast on the 

 train. 



They travelled up to London in the guard's van, 

 and I did not dare release them, for they had grown 

 too big and strong for one person to hold. At Pad- 

 dington what looked like a tradesman's cart was 

 awaiting them, they were lifted into it, and were 

 rattled off to the Zoological Gardens. They were in 

 as much demand in England as they had been favour- 

 ites in Africa, but the Talbots and I had resolved to 

 place them where they would be appreciated by the 

 greatest number of people, and where they would be 

 well cared for. The Secretary of the Zoological Society 

 assured us they would be valued at the Zoo, and they 

 became members of the King's African Collection. 



An expert who visited them there described them 

 thus : " The lions are about six months old, and are 

 extremely friendly and playful. They show, in a 



