144 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
African, " that his forefathers had always done 
so." 
This, with a hyena, shot by a sentinel when 
attempting to take away one of our asses, were 
the only animals of the kind killed by us. In a 
few nights after this, we were surprised by three 
lions, which, in despite of the strength of our 
fence, and of the centinels, who fired several 
shots at them, forced their way into the camp, 
and succeeded in mangling one of our horses, 
which was tied to a stake within fifteen yards of 
our huts, in such a dreadful manner, that 1 
thought it best, by means of a pistol ball, to put 
an end to the poor animal's sufFeiings. 
Those animals are very troublesome, particu- 
larly at the time of year when the corn and 
grass, being nearly the height of a man, afford 
them means of concealing themselves near the 
towns, and of making nightly attacks on the 
herds of black cattle and goats belonging to the 
tiatives, who keep up large fires in the folds, 
and occasionally fire off their muskets, to deter 
them from approaching ; — but in this they do 
hot unhappily always succeed. 
Not having heard any intelligence of Mr. 
Dochard since his departure, I began to be un- 
easy for his safety, and thought of despatching 
a person in the direction he went, in order to 
ascertain, if possible, how far he had got, w^hen 
♦ 
