A LION HUNT. 215 



tail ; her skin beautifully sleek, and the upper part 

 of a rich tawny, darker down the spine, while the 

 jaws, throat, belly, and inside of the legs were of a 

 pure milky white. Pier bright yellow eyes were 

 wide open, and life-like, while five bullet-holes in 

 her chest and shoulders, out of the six shots, reflected 

 no disgrace on our shooting. 



" We called up the servants with our horses, and 

 remounting, rode briskly under the heavy rain, with 

 our guns pointed downwards, for fear of accidents 

 from the lightning, in the direction we supposed the 

 other to have taken ; but after a short, unsuccessful 

 search, it was determined as the shower was nearly 

 over, and the thunder rolling away in the distance, 

 to off saddle and turn our horses loose to graze and 

 roll, previous to commencing a pursuit of the first 

 two lions. 



" While the servants knee-haltered and watched the 

 horses, we returned on foot to where the corpse lay, 

 and while yet at a distance, observed it already 

 covered with about a dozen of large grey vultures, 

 while others stood round in little groups, and num- 

 bers more were descending from the sky ; some 

 wheeling in gradually lower, and diminishing circles, 

 others yet but specks sailing in the upper air. At our 

 approach they heavily took flight, and retiring to a 

 little distance, remained watching for our departure. 



" While sitting in debate after dinner on the dis- 

 appointment of all our fair hopes, and the mortifica- 



