280 ON SAFAEI 



where it is practised — such as Athi Plains — a clear 

 tendency to attack when unmolested, and especially to 

 attack horsemen, whom they are learning to regard as 

 systematic enemies. 



This the following account of a recent fatality on the 

 Athi Plains tends to show. I transcribe from a letter 

 from a friend in East Africa — 



" I regret to tell you that j\Ir. Lucas of Donyo-Sabuk 

 was killed by a lioness last week (May 1906). It 

 happened thus. Lions had for some time been molest- 

 ing his stock, so he wrote for Capt, Goldfinch, whom 

 you know, to come over and help him. They were 

 riding together on the Athi, when suddenly a lioness 

 sprang upon Goldfinch, rolling horse and rider to the 

 ground. L. at once fired from his saddle, when the 

 brute immediately left Goldfinch and sprang on Lucas, 

 hurling him and his pony over, clawing him in the face, 

 and mauling his arm so badly that he died a few days 

 later in hospital. I should add that Goldfinch, mauled 

 as he was, stood by his friend and fired point-blank into 

 the lioness' ear, giving her the coiqD de grace. One 

 seldom hears of these brutes attacking unproV'Oked as 

 this one did. A young fellow has also just been killed 

 at Nyeri by a rhino. He was unarmed, and could not 

 get out of the brute's way." 



Not only are the four animals named capable by 

 sheer strength of almost instantly destroying human 

 life, but they also possess a sjDeed and an activity 

 beyond what might be expected in such ponderous 

 beasts. Hence, should the critical moment arrive at all, 

 it comes in the form of a headlong onset, that, if carried 

 home, may disconcert the coolest nerve. 



HL Snakes 



Of the "more subtle and venomous beasts of the 

 field" above referred to. East Africa is singularly free. 

 During the whole period of our wanderings, including 

 both summer and winter seasons, we did not see a 



