THE LION. 



disturbed by the midnight visit of the lion j and their only 

 escape from his attacks was in the discovery of his retreat 

 and his destruction. His usual prey was the quagga or the 

 antelope, [various species of which abound in these plains] ; 

 but the fleetness of these animals, or their instinctive precau- 

 tions, perhaps, gave them more security than the feeble defences 

 of a crowded kraal. 



" The method by which the Boors pursue the lion will be shown 

 by describing the last hunt at which t was present. In every 

 instance it was the same, and in three successful, without injury 

 to any individual of the parties. The north-east bank of Orange 

 River opposite our encampment, was totally uninhabited save 

 by a few wandering Bushmen. Vast numbers of antelopes and 

 quaggas grazed upon the plains ; and, in the rugged and bare 

 hills which intersect them, the lion dwelt during the day, and 

 at night descended, after considerable intervals, in search of 

 food. I have seldom seen him in the plain during the day, 

 save when, in the extreme heat of the summer, he might be 

 found on the wooded banks of the river ; but often during the 

 night when we bivouacked in the open plain, and the terror of 

 the cattle and horses bore evidence of his approach, at dawn he 

 would be seen winding slowly his way to the loftier summit of 

 some neighbouring mountain. One might hear the thunder of 

 his voice at miles' distance, while every animal shook with fear. 

 A lion of huge dimensions passed the river, which at that season 

 was low, and carried off a horse, the property of a neighbouring 

 Boor. For some nights previous, he had been heard in a hill 

 close to the banks of the river, to which it was supposed he had 

 again retreated on destroying his prey. The Boors assert that 

 the flesh of the horse is highly prized by the palate of the lion, 

 but perhaps it is because that animal is their own most valuable 

 property. With the few Boors we could collect, and a party of 

 our men, we mounted immediately after sunrise on the following 

 morning, and with a number of dogs proceeded to the mountain, 

 every crevice and ravine of which we examined without finding 

 him. Gorged with his late meal, he had, perhaps, we though t, 



