A HYiENA. 143 



prowling about at the foot of a neighbouring moun- 

 tain, — a piece of information by no means agreeable ; 

 but he added, by way of consoling us, that they 

 seldom came near the house to trouble him ; for 

 when they did, he always shot some of them, which 

 immediately caused the rest to retire. 



By this time the men had collected a quantity of 

 dry wood and bushes for the fire, which was soon 

 kindled into a cheerful flame. Our tent had been 

 pitched near a fountain, surrounded by a cluster of 

 fine lofty trees, forming a cool and pleasant retreat 

 in this vast wilderness ; nevertheless, the wildness of 

 the country gave a solitary aspect to the scene, which 

 the darkness tended greatly to increase. During 

 the evening, while sitting at the door of our tent 

 partaking a little refreshment, the weather being 

 extremely sultry, we heard something moving near 

 us, and I just caught the glimpse of an animal 

 as it ran quickly past, which I soon discovered to 

 be a hysena, from the dismal cry it uttered at inter- 

 vals during the night. Sometimes it approached so 

 near to the oxen, notwithstanding the barking of the 

 dogs, that I was apprehensive for the safety of the 

 cattle, and got up with an intention of firing at it ; 

 it however took care to keep out of my reach. 



In the morning I accompanied the farmer with 

 my gun, desirous of procuring a few specimens of 

 the bustards, so plentiful in this district ; and whilst 

 thus occupied in shooting, a lion, apparently disturbed 



