THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



The character for bravery, nobiHty, and magnanimity generally 

 attributed to Lions exists only in the imagination of those who have 

 so described them, nor are they for a moment such clean feeders 

 as they are usually represented to be, it having been commonly 

 observed that they will return night after night and gorge on the 

 putrid carcass of an animal which probably owed its destruction to 

 some other beast of prey. When desperate through hunger, and 

 especially in the case of those that have become decrepit and unable 

 to kill game on their own account, they will unprovoked not infre- 

 quently attack man himself, but rarely otherwise. Man-eaters are 

 naturally always to be dreaded, but their existence is usually of short 

 duration, as the natives in a district frequented by one showing a 

 disposition for human flesh, gather in numbers and quickly exter- 

 minate the animal. Very little danger may be expected from those 

 that roar freely during the night, as a full voice is invariably a sure 

 sign of a full stomach ; but when one is heard to utter low snarling 

 whines at intervals, it may be assumed that there is a vacuum some- 

 where, and that mischief is intended, wherefore extra precaution 

 should be observed, or, as the Dutch hunters say, "boss up." 



It is a curious fact that, instead of objecting to, the Masarwas 

 (Bushmen) rather favour, the presence of these animals, not, it may 

 be premised, out of any particular motives of personal regard, but 

 because they are well aware that where Lions are numerous, it 

 follows that they run the chance of obtaining constant supplies of 

 meat without undergoing any extra personal exertions on their own 

 part. This may more readily be understood when it is recognised 

 that, except on rare occasions. Lions hunt only during the night, 

 and having satisfied their hunger on killing a head of game, invari- 

 ably forsake the carcass before dawn, retiring into some patch of 

 dense bush, where they pass the day in sleep. On such occasions 

 the sun is not very high in the heavens before the vultures are 

 attracted from all quarters to the body of the slain animal, and the 

 Masarwas, following the flights of these unerring guides, usually 

 arrive in time to partake of the remnants of the ready provided 

 feast. 



In comparison to its size (a full-grown Lion weighing about 

 SCO lbs.) the strength of this animal is certainly enormous, but 

 such accounts of its capabilities for " clearing high skerms (arti- 

 ficial thorn fences), encumbered with the weight of a three-year old 

 heifer," and similar statements of the kind, must not be accepted ; 



