Finding of our Victim 191 



able. The place where we gave up the chase yester- 

 day is south-west of the camp, and just before arriving 

 there is the dry bed of the Mtudzi, a small river which 

 flows in a southerly direction, and passes at a short 

 distance the Mafsitis' pathway which we know well. 



Now these natives, in coming this way, saw the 

 vultures in the east, near the Mtudzi, and there is 

 every likelihood that what they are after is our lion. 

 In case we are right I take everything necessary to 

 prepare the skin on the spot steel pegs, a bucket, 

 skinning-knives, arsenical soap, etc. 



We reach the spot where we abandoned the chase 

 yesterday, and, as the large trees hide the sky in the 

 distance, we make a detour towards the Mafsitis' 

 pathway. Half an hour afterwards we see the 

 birds of prey, and we soon arrive on the spot above 

 which they hover. We force a way through the thick 

 vegetation, which the fire has left untouched, clouds of 



o 



white and brown vultures flying from the surrounding 

 trees at our approach. At last we distinguish a brown 

 animal lying on the ground, half hidden by a shady 

 bush. The quantity of flies show that it is quite 

 dead. Let us approach. It is really our lion, but, 

 alas ! already much injured by hyenas, which have 

 eaten the paws, and its swollen skin indicates decom- 

 position. After having cleared away the bushes and 

 grass, I photograph it ; it is dragged into the shade ; 

 and my men hold it while Tchigallo proceeds to take 

 off the skin. All have the calm bearing of men whose 

 noses are philosophic in regard to smells : they sur- 

 round this carrion and bend over it as we should over 



