170 MAMMALIA — LION. 



of men. Our friends, the Tarkaboors, many of whom are excellent lion 

 hunters, were all too far distant to assist us, our nearest neighbors residing 

 at least twenty miles from the location. We were, therefore, on account 

 of our own inexperience, obliged to make our Hottentots the leaders of 

 the chase. 



"The first point was to track the lion to his covert. This was effected 

 by a few of the Hottentots, on foot. Commencing from the spot where the 

 horse was killed, they followed the spoor, (track,) through grass, and gravel, 

 and brushwood, with astonishing ease and dexterity, where an inexperienc- 

 ed eye could discern neither foot print nor mark of any kind, — until at 

 length we fairly tracked him into a large bosch, or straggling thicket of 

 brushwood and evergreens, about a mile distant. 



"The next object was to drive him out of this retreat, in order to attack 

 him in close phalanx, and with more safety and effect. The approved mode, 

 in such cases, is to torment him with dogs till he abandons his covert, and 

 stands at bay in the open plain. The whole band of hunters then march 

 forward together, and fire deliberately one by one. If he does not speedily 

 fall, but grows angry and turns upon his enemies, they must then stand 

 close in a circle, and turn their horses, rear outward ; some holding them 

 fast by the bridles, while the others kneel to take a steady aim at the lion 

 as he approaches, sometimes up to the very horses' heels, couching every 

 now and then, as if to measure the distance and strength of his enemies. 

 This is the moment to shoot him fairly in the forehead, or some other mor- 

 tal part. If they continue to wound him ineffectually till he waxes furious 

 and desperate, or if the horses, startled by his terrific roar, grow frantic 

 with terror, and burst loose, the business becomes rather serious, and may 

 end in mischief; especially if all the party are not men of courage, coolness, 

 and experience. The frontier boors are, however, generally such excellent 

 marksmen, and, withal, so cool and deliberate, that they seldom fail to shoot 

 him dead as soon as they get within a fair distance. 



"In the present instance, we did not manage matters quite so scientifically. 

 The Bastuards, after recounting to us all these and other sage laws of lion 

 hunting, were themselves the first to depart from them. Finding that the 

 few indifferent hounds which we had, made little impression on the enemy, 

 they divided themselves into two or three parties, and rode round the jungle, 

 firing into the spot where the dogs, were barking round him, but without 

 effect. At length, after some hours spent in thus beating about the bush, 

 the Scottish blood of some of my countrymen began to get impatient; and 

 three of them announced their determination to march in and beard the lion 

 in his den, provided three of the Bastuards, (who were superior marksmen,) 

 would support them and follow up their fire, should the enemy venture to 

 give battle. Accordingly, in they went, (in spite of the warnings of some 

 more prudent men among us,) to within fifteen or twenty paces of the spot 

 where the animal lay concealed. He was couched among the roots of a 



