7^: THE LION OF SOUTH AFEICA. 



afterwards. A rhinoceros appeared to -be the chief 

 object of their greed." 



Livingstone has seen a herd of buffaloes defending 

 themselves against a number of lions with their 

 horns, the males in advance, the females and their 

 young forming a rear guard. 



Messrs. Oswell and Yardon were riding along the 

 banks of the Limpopo, when a waterbuck started in 

 front of them. " I dismounted," says Mr. Vardon, 

 " and was following it through the jungle, when three 

 buffaloes got up, and, after going a little distance, 

 stood still, and the nearest bull turned round and 

 looked at me. A ball from the two-ouncer crashed 

 into his shoulder, and they all three made off. 

 Oswell and I followed as soon as I had reloaded, and 

 when we were in sight of the buffalo, and gaining on 

 him at every stride, three lions leapt on the unfor- 

 tunate brute. He bellowed most lustily as he kept up 

 a running fight, but he was of course soon overpowered 

 and pulled down. "We had a fine view of the struggle, 

 and saw the lions, on their hind legs, tearing away 

 with teeth and claws in most ferocious style." Three 

 to one is an evident proof of weakness, and even three 

 of the South African lions together are not always 

 able to master a buffalo, especially a female with little 

 ones to defend. A traveller reports having seen a 

 female, backed by a river, hold five lions in check, and 



