

 BECHUANAS ATTACKING A LION. 171 



anas attacking a lion. As we were curious to see how 

 they succeeded in hunting this formidable animal, we did 

 not interfere, but 'held our rifles in reserve for a critical 

 moment. Each Bechuana had a kind of mop of ostrich 

 feathers tied upon a stick, made sharp at the end held in 

 the -hand an article used as a parasol as well as in the 

 chase and the short spear, called the assagai, which 

 these people throw with great certainty and force. The 

 lion was a full-grown yellow-maned animal. He had re- 

 ceived an assagai in his side, and was rather hard pressed, 

 when he turned upon one of the Bechuanas and hurled 

 him to the ground, clawing him frightfully. But a thrust 

 in the rear again brought him to a run, when one of the 

 Bechuanas, who happened to be in front, stuck his ostrich 

 parasol in the ground and dodged aside. The lion at- 

 tacked the senseless stick, and thus allowed his vigilant 

 enemies opportunities to give him several deep thrusts with 

 their assagais. He quickly turned upon them, and their 

 utmost dexterity was needed to keep beyond his reeking 

 jaws. But his strength was ebbing with his blood, and, 

 as he made a vigorous assault upon an ostrich parasol, a 

 Bechuana gave him a finishing-thrust in the heart. Yet 

 after the mighty beast fell stark and stiff, these trium- 

 phant hunters continued to bury their assagais in his body 

 to make sure of his death. This mode of hunting was as 

 daring as it was successful. Though generally considered 



