102 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



Then the tracks led into some thick bush, and here we found 

 some bits of flesh, evidently some that the lion had carried 

 off. I also saw some long mane hair hanging to a thorn 

 bush. 



We tried our best to get up to the lion, which we 

 disturbed several times, but never got a glimpse of ; 

 although an old man who had mounted an anthill called out 

 something, and began shaking his spear and pointing. I 

 ran to the anthill, but by the time I got to the top the lion 

 had moved on and at last took fright and went off for good, 

 so I never got a shot. 



I was inexperienced then, and if I had now the same 

 opportunity, I expect I might have a different tale to tell of 

 that day's proceedings. As I had to get back to Zomba on 

 duty, I had to leave the same afternoon or I would have 

 liked to have sat up for this lion. 



Next day the natives burnt down the hut with its 

 gruesome contents, as the lion kept hanging around that 

 night, but was kept off by the flare of large fires and the 

 beating of drums. 



Many is the tragedy of this kind that has taken place in 

 all countries where lions still exist, and it still goes on. 

 The natives, of course, are very foolish, as they have 

 abundant materials for making strong huts and inclosures ; 

 but they are too lazy and careless to do so, and they trust 

 to luck, and hope that if anyone suffers it will be someone 

 else and not themselves. 



A man-eater does not proclaim his presence by roaring or 

 grunting, and when he is on the look out for a meal he 

 works silently. If he cannot break in through the w r alls, he 

 has been known to jump on the roof and get through the 

 thatch. I remember hearing in North-Eastern Rhodesia of 

 a lion getting into a hut where there were three boys. He 

 killed them all. Parts of Central Angoniland are bad for 

 man-eaters, and the villages in the vicinity of, and including, 

 Gw r irisis, were surrounded by tall palisades to keep the 

 beasts out. The villagers there belong to the Chipeta tribe, 

 a poor, weak lot; and it is noteworthy that lions do not 



