TRACKING A LION. 213 



big eyes and long necks there is little chance of getting 

 the best of them in a stalk, however much a favourable 

 wind may curtail the powers of one special sense. The 

 rhinoceros woods are a little nearer the river, say from 

 three to four miles, and here also are the buffaloes fre- 

 quently found, though they are not so particular about 

 making long journeys from the river before settling 

 themselves down in the shade for their daily nap during 

 the great heat. Rhinoceros have a curious habit of de- 

 positing their manure in the same place, and conse- 

 quently, in some much frequented woods, large mounds 

 of it are found along their chief thoroughfares. 



March 9. Lions were especially entertaining last 

 night, so at an early hour this morning we went in differ- 

 ent directions in search of their tracks, and after a time 

 a distant roar, heard by both parties, drew us towards 

 the same point. Essafi very soon found a fresh track 

 there, and followed it with his usual energy, and he 

 certainly never seems so happy as when on a good 

 track. One moment he turned round to specially point 

 it out, exclaiming ' kebeer,' meaning a big lion ; farther 

 on, to keep up my interest in the performance, he showed 

 me a place where the lion had scratched up the ground, 

 saying ' gheean ' (hungry), and so we progressed until 

 our path joining another, he pulled up, and with a most 

 disappointed expression of face pointed out the fresh 

 and well-known track of the Vivian boot. It was quite 



