104 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



two man-eating lions at great risk to your own life, 

 thereby saving us from the fate of being devoured 

 by these terrible monsters who nightly broke into 

 our tents and took our fellow-workers from our side. 

 In presenting you with this bowl, we all add our 

 prayers for your long life, happiness and prosperity. 

 We shall ever remain, Sir, Your grateful servants, 



BaboO PURSHOTAM HURJEE PURMAR, 



Overseer and Clerk of Works, 

 on behalf of your Workmen. 



Dated at Tsavo, January 30, 1899. 



Before I leave the subject of " the man-eaters of 

 Tsavo," it may be of interest to mention that these two 

 lions possess the distinction, probably unique among 

 wild animals, of having been specifically referred to 

 in the House of Lords by the Prime Minister of the 

 day. Speaking of the difficulties which had been 

 encountered in the construction of the Uganda 

 Railway, the late Lord Salisbury said : 



" The whole of the works were put a stop to for 

 three weeks because a party of man-eating lions 

 appeared in the locality and conceived a most 

 unfortunate taste for our porters. At last the 

 labourers entirely declined to go on unless they were 

 guarded by an iron entrenchment. Of course it is 

 difficult to work a railway under these conditions, 

 and until we found an enthusiastic sportsman to get 

 rid of these lions, our enterprise was seriously 

 hindered." 



