234 UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



drew the supporting framework, and caused the heavy trap- 

 door to fall down into the required position, and thereby to 

 shut the cage most effectively. The rope went to the farthest 

 end of the cage, and there, passing over a horizontal pole and 

 returning in the direction of the door, had its end securely tied 

 to a goat placed as a bait inside the trap. 



The goat had previously had its legs tied, so as to render it 

 quite helpless. Of course the principle I went upon, was, that 

 the lion would not stop to devour its prey, but would seize it 

 and try to carry it off, and therefore would pull at the rope to 

 which the goat was tied, and thus close the trap-door. As the 

 lion had refused to accept the goat we had placed for it as a 

 bait out in the open air on the previous night, we built a native 

 hut over the trap, and the lion-trap w'as completed. Just before 

 dark we baited the trap, and awaited the result. Everybody in 

 the village was warned to be inside his own hut before dusk, 

 and to see that his door was securely fastened. Though a tiger 

 man-eater, having once tasted human flesh, is said ever after to 

 prefer it to all other flesh, I do not know if the lion man-eater 

 resembles it in this predilection ; but it would seem it does, for 

 this particular lion refused to take the goat twice offered him 

 as a bait on two successive nights. 



The Soudanese lieutenant. Said Jabara, w-as eating his even- 

 ing meal at the door of his hut, when the man-eater suddenly 

 entered his enclosure and bounded into the adjoining hut. 

 With great presence of mind, the lieutenant at once flung burn- 

 ing brands in front of this hut, and thus promptly made a 

 prisoner of the man-eater. 



Soon a blazing fire was roaring, fed by many willing hands. 

 Luckily the occupant of the hut was absent. When I arrived on 

 the scene and heard how matters stood, I climbed on to the 

 anterior shed, followed by my Arab servant with my rifle and a 

 lantern. The Soudanese lieutenant also joined me. The lion 

 had taken refuge in the inner hut. Cautiously the Soudanese 

 officer removed some of the thatch. I pushed the rifle through 

 the opening and peered into the dark interior of the hut, whilst 

 my Arab endeavoured to throw the light of the lantern into 

 it. It was very doubtful whether the weak framework of the 

 roof would bear our united weight much longer ; there were 

 ominous crackings, and we were in danger of being precipitated 

 into the hut right in front of the man-eater. There was also the 



