SOUTHERN AFRICA. 347 
and under one cover. Each nest, however, lias a separate 
entrance on the under side, and has no communication with 
its neighbour from within. Sometimes one of these clumps 
of nests will extend a space of ten feet in diameter, and con- 
tain a population of several hundred individuals. The aloe 
dichotoma, being the only plant met with on the hills of this 
country approaching to the size of a tree, except the mimosa, 
which grows only on the borders of periodical rivers, is gene- 
rally the resort of these gregarious birds, where they construct 
their temporary dwellings, when nature calls upon them to 
fulfil the end of their creation. 
It was on one of these edifices that the Hottentot screened 
himself from the sight of the lion. Having remained silent 
and motionless for a length of time, he ventured to peep over 
the side of the nest, hoping that the lion had taken his de- 
parture ; when, to his great terror and astonishment, his eyes 
met those of the animal, to use his own expression, " flashing 
" fire at him.'' In short, the lion laid himself down at the 
foot of the tree, and stirred not from the place for four-and- 
twenty hours. He then returned to the spring to quench his 
thirst, and, in the mean time, the Hottentot descended the 
tree, and scamper.ed to his home, which was not more than 
a mile distant, as fast as his feet could carry him. The per- 
severance of the lion was such, that it appeared afterwards 
he had returned to the tree, and from thence had hunted 
the Hottentot by the scent within three hundred paces of 
the house. 
Y Y 2 
