254 VERTEBRATA. 



These accounts, it will be remembered, relate to the lions of Northern Africa, which live in 

 the vicinity of towns and settlements. Travelers and adventurers in the more southern and less 

 settled portions, give the same general representation of this formidable beast. 



The following sketch, among many similar ones, furnished by Mr. Cumming — a modern British 

 Nimrod — whospenl some months in hunting the monsters of Africa, gives a fearful picture of their 

 banquets. It will be understood that the narrator had shot three rhinoceroses near a fountain, 

 and soon after twilight had died away, he came down to the water to watch for lions. With him 

 was hi> Eottentol attendant, Kleinboy : 



"On reaching the water I looked toward the carcass of the rhinoceros, and to my astonish- 

 ment 1 beheld the ground alive with large creatures, as though a troop of zebras were approach- 

 ing the water to drink. Kleinboy remarked to me that a troop of zebras were standing on the 

 height. 1 answered 'Yes;' but 1 knew very well that zebras would not be capering around the 

 carcass of a rhinoceros. I quickly arranged my blankets, pillow, and guns in the hole, and then 

 lav down to feast my eyes on the interesting sight before inc. It was bright moonlight, as clear 

 a- 1 need wish. There were six large lions, about twelve or fifteen hyenas, and from twenty to 

 thirtv jackals, feasting on and around the carcasses of the three rhinoceroses. The lions feasted 

 peaceably, but the hyenas and jackals fought over every mouthful, and chased one another 

 round and round the carcasses, growling, laughing, screeching, chattering, and howling, without 

 any intermission. The hyenas did not seem afraid of the lions, although they always gave way 

 before them; for I observed that they followed them in the most disrespectful manner, and stood 

 laughing, one or two on either side, when any lions came after their comrades to examine pieces 

 of skin or bones which they were dragging away." 



The following account of an attack by one of these lion "man-eaters" as they are called — for 

 having once tasted human flesh they will eat nothing else if it can be obtained — is by the same 

 adventurous person, lie and his party had, unknown to themselves, pitched their camp in the 

 proximity of a lion of this description. All had retired to rest, when 



" Suddenly," says the narrator, " the appalling and murderous voice of an angry, blood-thirsty 

 lion burst upon my ears within a few yards of us, followed by the shrieking of the Hottentots. 

 Again and again the murderous roar of attack was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, 

 1 The lion ! the lion !' Still for a few moments we thought he was but chasing one of the dogs 

 round the kraal, but the next instant John Stofulus rushed into the midst of us, almost speech- 

 li ^s with fear and terror, his eyes bursting from their sockets, and shrieked out, 'The lion! the 

 lion! He has got Hendrick! lie dragged him away from the fire beside me. I struck him 

 with the burning brands upon his head, but he wouldn't let go his hold. Hendrick is dead! 

 God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take fire and seek him.' The rest of my people rushed 

 about shrieking and yelling as if they were mad. I was at once angry with them for their folly, 

 and told them that if they did not stand still and keep quiet, the lion would have another of US, 

 and that very likely there was a troop of them. I ordered the dogs, which were nearly all fast, 

 to be made loose, and the fire to be increased as far as could be. I then shouted Hendrick's 

 name ; but all was still. I told my men that Hendrick was dead, and that a regiment of soldiers 

 could not now help him, and hunting my dogs forward, I had every thing brought within my 

 cattle kraal, when we lighted our fire and closed the entrance as well as we could. It appeared 

 that when the unfortunate Hendrick rose to drive in the ox, the lion had watched him to his 

 fireside, and he had scarcely lain down when the brute sprang upon him and Ruyter — for both 

 lay under one blanket — with his appalling roar; and roaring as he lay, grappled him with his 

 fearful claws, and kept biting him on the breast and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck: 

 having got hold of which, he at once dragged him away backward round the bush into the dense 

 shade. As the lion lay on the unfortunate man, he faintly cried, 'Help me! help me! O God! 

 Men, help me ! After which, the fearful beast got hold of his neck, and then all was still, cx^<\' 

 that his comrades heard the bones of his neck cracking between the teeth of the lion." It is' 

 satisfactory to know that on the following day Mr. Cumming took revenge on the lion, whose 

 huge grisly hide he afterward exhibited in London. 



Pringle, the celebrated traveler in Southern Africa, gives us the following' sketch. His party, it 



