TWO HORSES KILI-ED BY LIONS. 167 



natives, who were now anxious to prevent my proceed- 

 ing further from their country, were willingly neglect- 

 ing their charge, and, instead of looking after my cat- 

 tle, were exchanging the flesh and fat of my sea-cows 

 for assagais, &c., with the Bakalahari. The night was 

 very dark, and the, horses were sought for in vain. I 

 remarked to Carey that it was some time since we had 

 heard the voice of a lion ; but a few minutes after we 

 heard the low moan of the king of beasts repeated sev- 

 eral times at no great distance, and in the very direc- 

 tion in which my. horses were supposed to be. 



The next day the sun had been up two Jiours, and 

 my horses could not yet be found. I entertained no 

 apprehensions, however, from the lion, but rather sus- 

 pected some plot between Seleka and my natives to 

 drive my cattle back, and so force me to retrace my 

 steps. I therefore ordered John Stofolus and Hendrio 

 to take bridles and a supply of meat, and to follow up 

 the spoor wherever it might lead ; and being anxious 

 to see which way it went, I took a rifle and foUowec 

 in quest of it myself Observing a number of vul 

 tures to the west, and hearing the voices of natives ir 

 that direction, I proceeded thither at top speed. Tc 

 my utter horror, I found my two most valuable and 

 especially favorite veteran shOoting-horses lying fear- 

 fully mangled and half consumed by a troop of ruth- 

 less lions. They were "Black Jock" and " Schwart- 

 land," the former a first-rate young horse, worth £24, 

 the latter aged, but by far my most valuable steed, 

 being perhaps the best shooting-horse in Southern Af- 

 rica ; he knew no fear, and would approach as near as 

 T chose to elephant or lion, or any description of game. 

 From his back I had shot nearly all my elephants last 

 vear ; and so fond was I of this horse, that I never rode 



