82 
LIONS AND THEIR PREY. 
10, 11 March, 
was a sight we had never before seen during our whole journey ; 
and Phihp immediately mounting the horse, took a circuit for the 
purpose of cutting off the retreat of the nearest herd. 
In the mean time we halted : this gave us an opportunity of 
noticing the footmarks of lions. Our Bushmen added their advice 
to keep close watch over our cattle, as we were now entering a part 
of the country where those formidable beasts were known to abound. 
This fact might, without having seen the footmarks, or without in- 
curring much risk of being mistaken, have been inferred from the 
great numbers of wild animals just observed : for, where no game 
is to be seen, there no lions are to be feared ; since these, it is 
evident, can live only in those parts of the country where they can 
procure daily food. Travellers, therefore, who are obliged to depend 
upon the chase for their support, will consider the dangers and in- 
convenience of lions, to be more than counterbalanced by the ad- 
vantage of abundance of game. 
Philip had pursued the antelopes far out of sight ; we had waited 
more than an hour, without seeing him return ; and the sun fast 
sinking to the horizon, warned us to look out for a place where 
we could safely pass the night. We therefore proceeded a short dis- 
tance farther, in expectation of falling in with the river ; and having 
met with it and crossed to the right bank, we soon found a con- 
venient station and unpacked the oxen. But we were not forgetful 
of Riizo's advice, and carefully made all our cattle fast to the bushes. 
As soon as twilight began to advance, we heard the lions roar- 
ing at a distance, and commencing their nightly prowl. Philip had 
not yet returned, and our fears for his safety, as well as for that of 
the horse, caused us much uneasiness. To direct him to the spot 
where we had stationed ourselves, a large fire was made, and several 
muskets were discharged. Guided, first by the sound of these, and 
afterwards by the light, he at length found his way home ; but 
was considered by Linnaeus and many naturalists, to be same as the Bubalis of the ancients, 
which is an animal of Northern Africa ; but some later writers distinguish it as a separate 
species, by the name of Antilope Caama : a distinction which I am more inclined to doubt, 
than to adopt ; until an actual collation of the two animals, shall decide the question. 
