84 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



If they are at all inclined to give trouble, they will invariably 

 choose a dark or rainy night for their operations, and when travelling 

 in infested districts by ox wagon, it is advisable to have the cattle 

 tied securely to the trek-tow before sundown, which should be 

 fastened in front to the ground with strong iron pins, thus pre- 

 venting the oxen from pulling sideways. The horses should also be 

 double reimed to the side of the wagon, more especially if there 

 are any white ones among the lot (as Lions will generally pick out a 

 white horse in preference to others), and a sufficient supply of dry 

 wood brought close to hand with which keep the fires well up during 

 the night, taking care to build the largest in front of the leading pair 

 of oxen. Cattle or horses are not much disturbed at the appearance 

 of the Lion itself, but the smell of one terrifies them, and without any 

 roaring or growling its presence is immediately detected, when the 

 cattle commence to breathe in a loud and hurried manner, followed, 

 if recumbent, by starting quickly to their feet with every appearance 

 of terror, the horses meanwhile snorting and tugging at their 

 reims. 



One word more. Never, on any account, trust the skinning of a 

 Lion to native attendants, as the first thing they will do is to cut off 

 the "claws and render the specimen almost worthless. 



The Leopard {Felis pardus). — Teegre of the Dutch; 'Nkwai 

 of the Becluianas. 



It is only now and again that the depredations caused by this 

 animal and its ultimate destruction are reported at the present time 

 in several districts of Natal and the Cape Colony. When the flesh 

 of their ordinary prey, which chiefly consists of chacma baboons 

 {Cynocephalus porcarius), varied with an occasional Rhebuck or 

 Klipspringer, is unobtainable, they are compelled to devote their 

 attention to the sheep and goat kraals of the farmers. As might be 

 supposed, after a visit of such a nature (if the number of men and 

 dogs engaged in the chase be taken into consideration), the Leopard 

 has rather a lively time of it, and is generally either killed or com- 

 pelled to migrate to pastures new. A few still exist in some of the 

 mountains of the Transvaal and hills of the Bechuanaland Pro- 

 tectorate, but Northward, where other game is abundant, they are 

 more often to be met with. They are never anywhere very 

 numerous, and even where fairly so, are rarely seen, as they 



