Natives with Muzzle-Loaders 87 



nothing when one reflects on the use to which the 

 blacks are capable of putting their weapons. Their 

 first movement upon meeting a lion at bay, face to 

 face, is to throw down their guns or to take to 

 their heels, or, if they fire, to lire in haste, without 

 putting their guns to the shoulder, and thus miss- 

 ing to a certainty. They have not even an idea 

 of using the butt, so that a gun in their hands 

 is as much good as a reed-pipe. For the very 

 reason of their inferiority through lack of prepara- 

 tion, it is certain that these people have much merit 

 in attacking, half-naked one might say, weapon- 

 less a redoubtable animal ; but an assagai is ten 

 times better for them, because it is their natural 

 weapon, and they are all accustomed to use it. Their 

 instinct to defend themselves would accomplish the 

 rest, and the lion would be riddled by well-directed 

 assagais. That is what happens in regions where 

 powder is rare ; but at Makanga, where there is not 

 a man who has not a gun in view of war, they would 

 not miss such an excellent opportunity to make use 

 of it, and it is hardly probable that amid such 

 circumstances they would leave their rifles at home 

 to take their assagais. 



As I just said, my first impulse is to refuse to 

 accompany this badly disciplined band, but it would 

 not be very easy to make them understand my 

 real reasons. Besides, I shall succeed perhaps in 

 organising the " battue." With this object I ex- 

 plain to my men by demonstration on the spot 

 that I desire them to form themselves into the 



