192 After Big Game in Central Africa 



a basket of flowers. But this is nothing. When the 

 intestines are removed they burst, and gases escape 

 which put me to flight ; but my men say simply and 

 without conviction, " Alle kununk'a " ("It smells 

 nasty"), exactly as we should say, "It is fine to- 

 day." 



As soon as the skin is removed I dip it, without 

 touching the hair, into an alum bath prepared in the 

 bucket, in order that when drying the hair will not 

 slip ; then I stretch it in the sun immediately, on a 

 spot which my men have previously cleared. Assisted 

 by Tchigallo, I measure the lion's carcase, at the same 

 time holding my nose, and drag the body farther 

 away, after which we go to rest in the shade and in 

 the wind, while the skin dries, and the vultures feast 

 at their ease on the body. Thanks to the care which 

 I have taken with it, the skin, which has a splendid 

 mane, almost black, is saved ; unfortunately, the paws 

 had to be sacrificed. But I gather together most of 

 the claws, and since then I have made souvenirs with 

 them for my friends. 



Here was a lion upon which I counted no longer, 

 and I do not regret the presents given to the two 

 natives who enabled me to find it again. According 

 to its measurements, it is the largest which I have 

 ever killed. It measures 11 feet 9 inches from the 

 tip of its nose to the tip of its tail, and its skull is 1 

 foot 5 inches, one of the largest which I have ever seen. 

 The advanced state of decomposition does not permit 

 me to examine the body carefully. I believe that one 

 of the bullets entered obliquely and pierced the upper 



