SOITTHERN AFRICA. 413 
ground, he incautiously approached too near to a neighbour- 
ing thicket, out of which, before he had time to present his 
musket, the wounded hon burst forth and, pouncing upon 
the poor Hottentot, laid him flat on the ground with a single 
pat of his paw. The royal brute bestrode the Hottentot with 
great composure and, as if conscious of having obtained his 
en«my within his clutches, seemed to be determined to pro- 
long the sweet delight of revelling in his revenge. According 
to the poor fellow's statement, he pawed him just as a kitten 
is wont to play with a mouse ; and that whenever he at- 
tempted to stir, he was sure to receive what the lion might 
consider a gentle tap, but which, however, generally carried 
away with it a piece of flesh. Both his arms, indeed, had 
been lacerated in a shocking manner by this lion s play, Avith 
which he continued to amuse himself and to torment his 
vanquished enemy for a considerable length of time, without 
the least apparent intention of speedily making a meal of 
him. The master of the Hottentot, having by accident dis- 
covered the traces of blood, followed them to the scene of 
action and, casting his eyes to the spot, saw Avitli terror the 
critical situation of his Hottentot. He possessed ,^ however, 
sufficient presence of mind to level his piece and, taking a 
cool and steady aim, he shot the lion dead upon the Hot- 
tentot ; the skin of which he carried with him as a trophy of 
one of the most fortunate but critical siiots that perhaps was 
ever made as, had he missed his aun, his own fate v/as in- 
volved in that of the Hottentot- 
Continuing their journey along the banks of the Koiirmanna- 
river, they passed a succession of Booshuana villages, plea- 
