44 After Big Game in Central Africa 



the remains to them. I added, without waiting for 

 their reply, that I was going to skin the animal, and 

 that the first man who touched it would feel my 

 stick. The whole of the population sat down in a 

 circle waiting patiently until Tchigallo, assisted by 

 Rodzani and Msiambiri, had finished removing the 

 skin. Then they rushed upon the body, riddled it 

 with projectiles, pierced it with assagais, and dragged 



"RECORD" LION SKULL (1 5'). 



the footless, headless carcase, which vaguely resembled 

 an ox prepared for the butchery, into all the neigh- 

 bouring villages. Later, in the midst of the lamen- 

 tations of the women, funeral dances and uproar, the 

 remains of the lion were burnt on an enormous wood 

 fire. Half-way on our journey back to the camp we 

 still heard the cries and the tom-toms. At night- 

 fall the gleam of the bonfire lighting up the horizon 

 told us that the expiation was finished. 



