FOREWORD 



IT was some seven or eight years ago that I 

 first read, in the pages of The Field newspaper, a 

 brief account written by Col. J. H. Patterson, then 

 an engineer engaged on the construction of the 

 Uganda Railway, of the Tsavo man-eating lions. 



My own long experience of African hunting told 

 me at once that every word in this thrilling narrative 

 was absolutely true. Nay more : I knew that the 

 author had told his story in a most modest manner, 

 laying but little stress on the dangers he had run 

 when sitting up at nights to try and compass the 

 death of the terrible man-eaters, especially on that 

 one occasion when whilst watching from a very light 

 scaffolding, supported only by four rickety poles, he 

 was himself stalked by one of the dread beasts. 

 Fortunately he did not lose his nerve, and suc- 

 ceeded in shooting the lion, just when it was on the 

 point of springing upon him. But had this lion 

 approached him from behind, I think it would pro- 



