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smells which then assailed us, and the numerous and recent 

 impressions of the feet of beasts of prey, left us no room to 

 doubt of the evidence which I had just received of this being 

 the gloomy residence of the savage race who had been roused by 

 our approach. 



" Having watched for two nights in vain, on the third evening 

 we tied lures of goats and asses under the trees, in three different 

 places, and at each of these stations three marksmen, including 

 myself, watched in a tree. About midnight, four animals, which 

 we imagined to be tigers, but afterwards discovered to be lions, 

 having at some -distance taken a momentary survey of the goat 

 tied at one of the posts, rushed furiously on it; and the largest of 

 them seizing it by the neck, with one shake broke the bone, and 

 the animal was instantly deprived of life. The lion then made an 

 effort to carry off his prey, which being purposely bound with 

 strong cords he failed in the attempt. At that instant two of the 

 marksmen posted with me in the tree fired and wounded him, 

 but he suffered only a momentary stupefaction, for immediately 

 recovering, he quilted the slain goat and retired. One of a smaller 

 size instantly came forward and seized the goat, when the third 

 marksman fired, and wounded him; he also directly retired; but, 

 by the light of the moon, we perceived that they both retreated 

 with difficulty. 



" On assembling the next morning from our respective posts, 

 we tracked the lions to some distance, by the blood; which having 

 at length lost, I resolved to penetrate into the depth of their haunts. 

 For this purpose I sent for the people of the nearest village, and 

 with some difficulty prevailed upon them to shew me the place 



