214 EXPEDITION INTO 



ever troul)lpsonie we foiiiid the intrusion of the feline rnc6 

 during- the nig'ht^ they seldom at sni}^ other tinie^ showed 

 the least disposition to molest us, unless we commenced 

 hostilities ', and this^ owing- to the badness of the horses^ 

 we rarely felt disposed to do. Ileturning* one afternoon 

 A\ith Maphook to a koodoo that I had shot^ in order to take 

 up tlie head^ Avhich I had concealed in a bush^ I was sur- 

 prised to find an enormous lion* feasting" upon the carcase ; 

 an odious assemblag'e of eag-er vultures, as usual^ g-arrisoning* 

 the trees and waiting* their turn when the g"org-ed monarch 

 should make way for them. Immediately upon my appear- 

 ance, he walked heavily off, expressing-^ by a stifled g-rowl, 

 his displeasure at being- thus unceremoniously disturbed at 

 dinner. It was not destined, however, that our acquaint- 

 ance should cease here ; for passing- the scene of this intro- 

 ductory interview the following- morning-, Kichardson and 

 myself were suddenly made aware of the monster's presence 

 l)y perceiving- a pair of g-ooseberry eyes g-laring* upon us 

 from beneath a shady bush ; and instantly upon reining- up 

 our horses, the g-rim savag-e bolted out with a roar, like 

 thunder, and bounded across the plain Avith the ag'ility of 

 a g-reyhound. The luxuriant beauty of his shag-g-y black 

 mane, which almost swept the g-round, tempted us, contrary 

 to estabhshed rule, to g-ive him battle, with the desig-n of 

 obtaining- possession of his spoils ; and he no sooner felt 

 himself hotly pursued than he faced about, and stood at 

 bay in a mimosa gTove, measuring- the streng-th of his 

 assailants with a port the most noble and imposing-. Dis-r 

 liking- our appearance, hoAvever, and not relishing- the smell 

 of g'un])owder, he soon abandoned the g-rove, and took up 

 his position on the summit of an adjacent stony hill, the 

 base of which being- thickl)^ clothed Avith thorn trees, Ave 



* Fclis Leo. DL4ineated in tLe PurLr;iits of Game and AVilil Animals of 

 Southern Africa. 



