254 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



who does not ? — are well advised if we stretch the skin 

 for breadth as well as length, thereby preserving a 

 better proportion and exciting less suspicion. 



Both lion bites and lion scratches give rise to blood- 

 poisoning. In the case of claw marks, it is easy to 

 understand, since the concave surface of the claw is 

 often filled with decaying flesh. The case of bites is 

 different since the teeth present an appearance of 

 polished cleanliness. Every settler should have on his 

 farm a syringe and a bottle of glycerine and carbolic. 

 This he should have handy when travelling through 

 lion-country. He need not think because he hears no 

 lions by night that there are necessarily none about ; 

 lions, where much hunted, roar seldom, if at all. If 

 every tooth or claw mark be thoroughly cleaned and 

 syringed out with the antiseptic in question — a cruelly 

 painful process — the chance of blood-poisoning ensuing 

 with fatal results is reduced to a minimum. 



Lions are most plentiful in the following portions of 

 the Protectorate. Both Games Reserves, the Athi, 

 Kapiti and Yatta plains, all thick bush country, along 

 the banks of the Thika, Tana, North Guaso Nyero, 

 South Guaso Nyero and Amala rivers and the desert 

 country round Lake Marsabit. 



Nearly every sportsman — settler, official, or visitor — 

 must have a soft spot in his heart for the lion, if only for 

 his magnificent sporting qualities. Elusive to bring to 

 bay, he is a gallant foe when cornered. I think that 

 there are very few in the Protectorate who would not 

 feel that we should be the poorer for the extermination 

 of the lion, and on his behalf I would put in a little plea. 

 There is no manner of doubt that where lions are a 

 menace to the possible safety or prosperity of settlers, 

 they must be banished, and to that end there can be 



