156 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



which I overheard among themselves, I learned that a 

 war was brewing between the emigrant Boers on the 

 northern bank of the Orange River, and the Bastard 

 and Griqua tribes. The rumor of this war threw my 

 followers^ who also heard the news from the servants 

 of the Boers, into a state of great alarm. I resolved, 

 however, that my movements should not be influenced 

 by these reports. 



At an early hour on the following morning a young 

 Boer rode up to the farm, and informed us that the 

 party who had been lion-hunting on the preceding day 

 had bagged two fine lions, a male and female. As the 

 farm lay directly in my line of march, I mounted Coles- 

 berg, and, directing my followers to follow with the 

 wagons, I rode hard for the farm, to inspect the noble 

 game. On my way thither I met a horse-wagon, drawn 

 by eight horses, containing some of the party who had 

 mustered for the battue. Arriving on the farm, I found 

 the lion and lioness laid out on the grass in front of the 

 house, and the Boers' Hottentots busy skinning them. 

 Both lions were riddled with balls, and their heads 

 were shot all to pieces. This is generally the way in 

 which the Boers serVe their lions after they have kill- 

 ed them, fearing to approach, though deadj until they 

 have expended a further supply of ammunition. A Hot- 

 tentot is then ordered to approach and throw a stone at 

 him ; the Boers then ask if he is dead, and on the Hot- 

 tentot replying^ " Like so, baas," he is ordered to pull 

 him by the tail before the hunters will venture to ap- 

 proach. My little Bushman informed me that he had 

 often beien out lion-hunting during his captivity with 

 the Boers. On one of these occasions, a Boer, who had 

 dismounted from his horse to fire, was dashed to the 

 ground by the lion before ho could regain his saddle. 



