32 TRAVELS IN THE 
diately firing at him, were lucky enough to wound him in such 
a manner, that, in springing from the thicket towards the 
people, he fell down among the grass, and was unable to rise. 
The animal, however, manifested such appearance of vigour, 
that nobody cared to approach him singly ; and a consultation 
was held, concerning the properest means of taking him alive ; 
a circumstance, it was said, which, while it furnished undeniable 
proof of their prowess, would turn out to great advantage, it 
being resolved to convey him to the Coast, and sell him to the 
Europeans. While some persons proposed one plan, and some 
another, an old man offered a scheme. This was, to strip the 
roof of a house of its thatch, and to carry the bamboo frame 
(the pieces of which are well secured together by thongs), and 
throw it over the lion. If, in approaching him, he should 
attempt to spring upon them, they had nothing to do but to let 
down the roof upon themselves, and fire at the lion through the 
rafters. 
This proposition was approved and adopted. The thatch was 
taken from the roof of a hut, and the lion-hunters, supporting 
the fabric, marched courageously to the field of battle ; each 
person carrying a gun in one hand, and bearing his share of the 
roof on the opposite shoulder. In this manner they approached 
the enemy : but the beast had by this time recovered his 
strength ; and such was the fierceness of his countenance, that 
the hunters, instead of proceeding any further, thought it pru- 
dent to provide for their own safety, by covering themselves 
with the roof. Unfortunately, the lion was too nimble for them ; 
for, niaking a spring while the roof was setting down, both the 
