Chap. I. A LION ENCOUNTER. 11 



the Bechuanas in general, they returned without slaving any. 

 It is well known that if one in a troop of lions is killed the 

 remainder leave that part of the country. The next time, 

 therefore, the herds were attacked, I went with the people 

 to encourage them to rid themselves of the annoyance by 

 destroying one of the marauders. We found the animals on 

 a small hill covered with trees. The men formed round it 

 in a circle, and gradually closed up as they advanced. Being 

 below on the plain with a native schoolmaster named Mebalwe, 

 I saw one of the lions sitting on a pieee of rock within the 

 ring. Mebalwe fired at him, and the ball hit the rock on 

 which the animal was sitting. He bit at the spot struck, as 

 a dog does at a stick or stone thrown at him ; and then 

 leaping away, broke through the circle and escaped unhurt. 

 If the Bakatla had acted according to the custom of the country, 

 they would have speared him in his attempt to get out, but 

 they were afraid to attack him. When the circle w r as re- 

 formed, we saw two other lions in it ; but dared not fire lest 

 we should shoot some of the people. The beasts burst through 

 the line, and, as it was evident the men could not be prevailed 

 on to face their foes, we bent our footsteps towards the village. 

 In going round the end of the hill I saw a lion sitting on a 

 piece of rock, about thirty yards off, with a little bush in front 

 of him. I took a good aim at him through the bush, and 

 fired both barrels into it. The men called out, " He is shot, 

 he is shot ! " Others cried, " He has been shot by anothei 

 man too ; let us go to him ! " I saw the lion's tail erected in 

 anger, and, turning to the people, said, " Stop a little till 1 

 load again." When in the act of ramming down the bullets 

 I heard a shout, and, looking half round, I saw the lion in 

 the act of springing upon me. He caught me b} T the shoulder, 

 and we both came to the ground together. Growling horribly 

 he shook me as a terrier dog does a rat. The shock produced 

 a stupor similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse 

 after the first gripe of the cat. It caused a sort of dreaminess, 

 in which there was no sense of pain nor feeling of terror, 

 though I was quite conscious of all that was happening. It 

 was like what patients partially under the influence of 

 chloroform describe ; they see the operation, but do not feel 

 the knife. This placidity is probably produced in all animals 



