COKE'S FIRST LION ADVENTURE. 135 



Returning home I shot a crocodile, which only just 

 succeeded in struggling into the water to die. Vivian 

 has again seen a lion, but could not get a shot at it, as it 

 almost instantaneously disappeared amongst the bushes. 

 After dinner we were entertained by a large herd of 

 buffaloes coming down the steep bank on the opposite 

 side of the river to drink, and quite within shot had it 

 not been too dark. Coke has been again unlucky in 

 hot stopping a rhinoceros. He succeeded in stalking 

 Within thirty yards of it as it faced him, and he there- 

 fore waited for a side shot expecting that it would 

 approach him. This it did for five yards, but then 

 being startled it turned round suddenly and only gave 

 him a snap-shot at its side,' and another as it galloped 

 off at a part which nature has certainly done her best to 

 render bullet-proof. 



Feb. 12. Coke is the hero of the moment, for not 

 only has he killed the first lion, but he has also had quite 

 an adventure ; and as he has escaped unhurt, we are 

 very much obliged to him for supplying us with some 

 good material for our diaries. 



Making an early start with the intention of shooting 

 anything that ' Inshallah ' might be sent to them, Uncle 

 Sam in a short time pulled up suddenly, and pointed 

 out a lion stealing away up a hill in front of them, and 

 only twenty yards off. Coke fired, and though he could 

 not see if he had hit him, he was led to think so by Uncle 



