26o TRAVELS IN 
refolution I took, and I had every reafon to 
congratulate myfelf on my faccefs; fince, of the 
four beafts we had to deftroy, the moft for- 
midable was flaln, and the three others took 
flight ; while, to increafe my happinefs, not a 
fmgle perfon was wounded, nor even one 
of the oxen that w^re driven into the thicket. 
Had we killed the lion firft, we fhould pro- 
bably have deftroyed the whole family ; bur, 
if one of the whelps had fallen a facrifice be- 
fore its mother, there is little doubt but it would 
have coft the life of one of us, fmce the event 
would have fo enraged the lionefs, that fhc 
would have braved every danger, and niflied 
inftantly upon the party. Accordingly I had 
llriitly enjoined every one not to fire at the 
young ones till the old onea were killed. 
Satisfied with having delivered the horde 
from this fcoiirge, and having no other motive 
to remain with them, I fixed the next day but 
one for my departure. This declaration was 
by n.o means agreeable to my people. They 
had found among thefe Nimiquas the fame 
eafy and compliant manners as they had be- 
fore experienced in fome other hordes, which 
induced them to wifli for a longer ftay. When 
they 
