126 Wild Beasts 



or tree-platform, has also been adopted. Lions may often 

 be seen walking about amid herds of antelopes on the 

 African plains "like Caffre chieftains," as Delgorgue ex- 

 presses it, " counting their flocks." The antelope knows 

 that it cannot be caught so long as it keeps beyond the 

 range of his first few lightning-like bounds, and thus its 

 equanimity is in nowise disturbed by this destroyer's 

 presence. Nothing but a stalk or an ambush will bring 

 one of these fleet animals within their enemies' reach. 



"Generally, however," says Andersson, "during the day 

 a lion lies concealed on some mountain side, or beneath the 

 shade of umbrageous trees or wide-spreading bushes. He 

 is also partial to lofty reeds and long, rank yellow grass, 

 such as occurs in low-lying ' vleys.' From these haunts he 

 sallies forth when the sun goes down and commences his 

 nightly prowl," and except the elephant and rhinoceros, 

 there is no land animal in Africa that he cannot, and does 

 not, kill. When lions attack the cattle of native rulers, 

 their herdsmen, whose lives are held by native masters in no 

 manner of account, are compelled to take their shields and 

 spears and go after the marauder. There is no particular 

 skill displayed save in tracking the beast to its lair, and 

 the desperate close fighting which follows is due to the fact 

 that the men know it is much better to be wounded or 

 even killed, than trust themselves to the tender mercies of 

 a negro chief who is enraged at the loss of his property. 

 Namaqua Hottentots, who possess firearms, never take 

 any risks. They go out in large parties, get into a safe 

 place, and when a lion is provoked to charge, he is met 

 with a storm of balls. A filthy little clay-colored Bushman 



