2oG 



YEUTEBUATA. 



.,:.•'! 



MR. LIVINGSTONE STHCCK DOWN BY A LION. 



beasts to burst through also. If the Bakatla had acted according to the custom of the coun- 

 try, they would have speared the lions in their attempt to get out. Seeing we could nol 

 them to kill oho of the lions, we bent our footsteps toward the village; in going round the end 

 of the hill, however, 1 saw one of the beasts sitting on a piece of rock as before, but this time he 

 had a little hush in front. Being about thirty yards off, I took a good aim at his body througl 

 the bush, and fired both barrels into it. The men then called out, vile i- shot, lie i- shot!' 

 Others cried, vile has been shot by another man, too; let us go to him!' T did not see any one 

 else shoot at him, hut I saw the lion's tail erected in anger behind the hush, and turning to the 

 people said, 'Stop a little, till I load again.' 



"When in the act of ramming down the bullets, I heard a shout. Starting, and looking halt 

 round, 1 saw the lion just in the act of springing upon me. I was upon a little height; he caughl 

 my shoulder as he sprang, ami we both came to the ground below together. Growling horribh 

 close to my ear, lie shook me as a terrier dog does a rat. The shock produced a stupor similar 

 to that which seems to he fell by a mouse after the first shake of the cat. It caused a sot 

 dreaminess, in which there was no sense of pain nor feeling of terror, though quite conscioU! 

 all that was happening. It was like what patients partially under the influence of chloroform 

 describe, who Bee all the operation, hut feel not the knife. This singular condition was not th< 

 resull of any mental process. The shake annihilated fear, and allowed no sen<e of horror in lool 

 ing round at tie- beast This peculiar state i< probably produced in all animals killed by tie 

 carnivora; and if so, is a merciful provision by our benevolent Creator for lessening the pain oi 

 death. Turning round to relieve myself of the weight, as he had one paw on the back of in} 

 bead, I saw his eyes directed to Meb&lwe, who was trying to shoot him at a distance of ten 01 

 fifteen yards. Bis gun, a flint one, missed tire in both barrels; the lion immediately left me 



