AFRICA. 327 
poifoned arrows, flie would purfue them with 
fury, overtake them in their courfe, and fire 
upon them without mercy. 
The annals of the Cape make mention of a 
great number of women who havediftinguiflied 
themfelvesbyafts of intrepidity that might do 
honour to the moft refolute of the other fex. 
The tragical fate of a widow, who lived up- 
on a very remote plantation with her two fons, 
the oldeft of whom was not above eighteen 
years of age, ftlll afforded a fubjed: for conver- 
fation at the Cape, when I, arrived there. One 
obfcure night fhe and all her family being 
awakened by the kicking and bellowing of her 
oxen and cows, which were in an enclofure 
not far diflant, every body flew to arms, and 
haflened towards the place from which the noife 
proceeded. When they reached the fpol, they 
found a lion, which, having got over the pales, 
was making dreadful devaftation among the 
cattle ; and no refource was left but to enter 
the enclofure, to invefl the ferocious animal, 
and to kill him. None of the flaves or Hot- 
tentots of this woman had however fufEcient 
courage to try this expedient ; and even her 
two fons would not venture to prefent them- 
felves before the ferocious beaft. In this di- 
Y 4 lemma 
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