486 
A Lion Hunt by Moonlight. 
During the summer season of 189 — I spent the months 
of December, January and February among the Golis 
Mountains in Somali-land, prospecting for paying deposits 
of pyritic ore, much of which is found in the narrow 
valleys between the high peaks of that picturesque range. 
In addition to half a dozen white miners, I had some 
fifty natives with me, two-thirds of whom were Somalis 
and the remainder a mixture of Matabeles, Kaffirs and 
"Cape Boys," the latter having served the DeBeers Com- 
pany in the Transvaal and being quite expert in the 
ordinary routine of mining work, although so lazy it was 
next to impossible to get them to do much. VVe com- 
menced operations about fifty miles north of the native 
town of Faf, and by Jan. i had progressed westward 
some 200 miles, finding ourselves in the heart of the Golis 
Range, and in about the wildest country to be found un- 
der the Southern Cross. The few xiative villages we en- 
countered were formed of low, miserable huts, made by 
leaning a number of small trees toward a common center, 
their roots foniiing a circle on the ground, the spaces 
between being filled with leaves and mud. Even the more 
enlightened Somalis I had brought with me from the 
coast were inclined to turn up their noses at their less 
favored brethren, exhibiting a sense of lofty contempt 
that was very amusing. 
The country had at least one redeeming feature — it was 
an ideal sportsman's paradise. While much of the soil 
was rocky and barren, producing no more pretentious 
vegetation than scattered cactus needles and thickets of 
wait-a-bit thorns, we wovild occasionally strike the bed 
of a mountain stream, fed by periodical springs, and 
would invariably find the banks lined with thick growths 
of mimosa and aloe trees, extending out on either side 
from 50 to sooyds., while the soft sand along the bed 
of the creek would be covered with tracks of antelope, 
hyena, wild boar, leopards and occasionally lions. When- 
ever we encamped near one of these "wadis," as the 
Somalis call them, we were sure to be treated during the 
night to a kind of infernal concert, in which the mourn- 
ful howl of the hyena and the wailing cry of the jackal 
blended inharmoniously with the deep voice of the lion. 
On Jan. 2 we arrived at a village by name of Zama, 
which, in the Somali language, signifies "the residence of 
the king." Although it was larger than any we had en- 
countered since leaving Faf, comprising some 800 huts 
and perhaps five times tliat nimiber of inhabitants, it 
possessed the usual amount of filth and mangy, yelping 
curs, the latter snapping at our heels as we made our way 
to the residence of the king; while the dirty Somalis 
lounging about the rude huts drove the blow-Hies away 
from their eyes and watched us listlessly. Arx-iving at the 
door of the royal abode, we were informed that the king 
was asleep and could not be disturbed, but that we might 
see him later in the day. As it was really necessary to 
secure his permission — and thereby protection — to cross 
his domains, or spend half onr time fighting inaurauding 
bands of Somalis, we encamped on the outskirts of the 
village and waited for his majesty to finish his siesta. The 
sun had nearly reached the line of trees in the west when 
a messenger brought word that the king would grant us 
an interview. After the usual amount of formality we 
were admitted into the royal presence and found the old 
fellow to be in a very amiable mood and willing to ex- 
cliange anything in his possession for some of the gaudy 
tsrinkets we had brought. 
During the interview, which I made as brief as possible, 
owing to the horrible stench of the place, the king in- 
formed me that we might be able to do him and his 
people a great favor, providing we were "mighty hunters," 
as he had no doubt all white men were. In explanation, he 
said that for several years his village had been much an- 
noyed by a pair of immense lions, wliich had preyed 
nightly upon his herds of sheep and buffalo, occasionally 
going so far as to waylay a man or woman, for a change 
of diet. As we were intending to continue our journey at 
daj'break the following morning, I informed him that, 
much as I would like to oblige him, we could not possibly 
spare the time it would require. When I had returned to 
camp, however, one of my men, by name Allen, whom i 
had found to be a most venturesome himter, proposed that 
we make a night hunt of it — a practice common among 
professional hunters in Central Africa, but one in which I 
had never indulged. In fact, it had always seemed 
hazardous enough to meet the king of beasts in the light 
of day, when one's life depended entirely upon nerve and 
eyesight; to seek him in the dark, or by the uncertain 
light of the moon, seemed to me to be a little short of 
tempting providence. As Allen appeared to be very 
anxious to engage in a night hunt, I at last consented 
to accompany him, and strapping on our cartridge belts 
we shouldered our heavy express rifles and accompanied 
by a Matabele by name of Mengwe (it is always best to 
limit such parties to two or three individuals), walked 
over to the village and informed the king that we were 
ready to proceed against his enemies, providing he would 
send several of his warriors along to show us the lair of 
the lions and would lend us a sheep for bait. This he 
readily agreed to do, and soon we were on our way to the 
haunts of the lions, accompanied by half a dozen Somalis, 
who were leading a half-grown mountain sheep. The 
Hons were supposed to make their home in the heart of a 
forest of dense bush jungle, about five miles from the vil- 
lage, and some distance up a narrow canon, or ravine, and 
as we made our way in this direction the Somalis regaled 
us with stories illustrating the great strength and prowess 
of the maurauders. They had nained the Hon Bas- 
Acharin-rajel (murderer of many) and the lioness Eaj- 
Haib (evil one), and from all accounts they fully merited 
their rather fantastic titles. When they had first ap- 
peared in the neighborhood the natives had mustered up 
courage to attack them, and accordingly a great hunting 
party was formed, composed of nearly a thousand of the 
bravest warriors. This party had met the Hons in_ the 
mountains near their lair, and after a decidedly one-sided 
battle, in which twenty-three of the natives were killed, the 
survivors had retreated pell-mell to their village, where 
they had since remained, preferring to lose their sheep 
rather than their lives. The story of the guides did not 
tend to increase our assurance to any extent, and it was 
with a feeling very close to fear that we made our way 
slowly and cautiously over the rough ground. When we 
tiad progressed about four miles our guides pointed ahead 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
to where the river bed we were following made a sharp 
curve around the base of a mountain, and informed us 
that on the opposite side of this mountain we would find 
the lair of the lions. They then bid us good night (at 
least that is the way I would interpret the Somal phrase, 
"Amar ku sikka"), and leaving us to our "fate," started 
on a run for the village, while we continued slowly on, 
keeping a sharp lookout for any sign of the lions, as the 
natives had informed us that the pair invariably used the 
ravine tli rough which we were passing when making a 
descent into the valley in search of food. In fact, the well- 
beaten path which showed plainly in the fading twilight 
indicated as much, and so we moved with extreme cau- 
tion, intending to select an elevation overlooking the 
path, where we could He in wait for them. Soon we 
found a very desirable place, where a large boulder ex- 
tended out from the side of the ravine, forming a Idnd of 
shelf, the upper surface being about loft. above the level 
of the river bed. It was an ideal place for an ambuscade, 
and tying the sheep to a large cacti plant we scaled the 
ravine and seated ourselves on the rock, where we care- 
fully examined our guns to make sure they were in pet^ 
feet order. Although our position gave us a decided ad- 
vantage over the game, we were by no means free from 
danger, as the side of the ravine was not so steep as to 
prevent a lion, unless badly wounded, from climbing to the 
surface of the rock. In fact, the lions which infest the 
mountains of Somali-land and lower Abyssinia are able 
to scale the rocks like grizzly bears, as I had found once 
before, much to my discomfiture. 
While we waited in silence the twilight slowly faded into 
a shadowy dusk, which in turn gave place to complete 
darkness, so dense we could hardly distinguish the out- 
lines of the river bed below us. Soon the first rays of 
the rising moon began to throw a dim, uncertain light 
over the mountain tops, which gradually increased in 
THE VERMONT DEER m'kINLEY. 
brilliancy until it was so light we could have seen to 
read a newspaper, although at a distance of looyds. it 
would have been impossible to distinguish between a lion 
and a sage brush. For nearly an hour we waited in 
silence, hearing nothing more interesting tlian the occa- 
sional howl of a hyena or the cry of a night bird. 
"Wonder if they are going to disappoint us?" whispered 
Allen. "Perhaps they — " 
"Listen/' interrupted the Matabele. "You hear dat, 
.sahib?" 
"That" was a deep, moaning sound, which seemed to 
issue from the side of the ravine to our right, several 
hundred yards distant, and was followed by a number of 
most diabolical sighs, similar to the sound made by a 
choking horse; these were followed by a series of low, 
growling roars, which graduaUy increased in volume 
until the very mountain seemed to vibrate as they died 
away in a hundred little echoes. The "murderer of 
many'' was leaving his home ! 
After the first series of roars, an apparently internim- 
able time elapsed — a creepy silence in which we hardly 
breathed— while we intently studied the bushes to our 
right, vainly trying to detect some sign of life. Even the 
very crickets and night birds had ceased their chirpings, 
while the poor sheep, which had been bleating piteously 
at intervals, crouched silently on the ground. For several 
minutes we sat, straining our eyes and ears, on the alert 
for the first sight of the game, when a slight movement 
from the Matabele caused us to glance in his direction. 
He pointed silently up the ravine, and a second later I 
thought I could distinguish the sound of steps among the 
bushes, although I could not make out a living object. The 
sound grew more pronoimced, and soon I could plainly 
hear the rustle of the leaves, as some animal 
brushes against them. Little by little the sound 
grew more audible, until I could plainly dis- 
tinguish the footfalls of one or more heavy animals, and 
a little later was able to make out the forms of two large 
beasts, moving slowly along in the uncertain light. As 
they approached nearer I recognized the prowling gait of a 
lion. They were probably unaware of our presence, as 
the wind was blowing steadily from them to us, and 
moved along with slow, stealthy steps, while we crouched 
lower on the rock and noiselessly cocked our guns. As 
they approached nearer I could see that the lioness was in 
advance, the lion following a few paces behind. 
They had arrived within perhaps 20yds. of our rock 
when the sheep, no longer able to restrain its terror, gave 
a freightened bleat. Instantly the Hons stopped, the Hon 
giving a subdued growl, which was answered by a 
snarling whine from the lioness, the latter crouching low 
in the bushes. For a moment, the lion stood still, and 
then, with another low gr'^wl, began to creep toward the 
struggling sheep, which was striving to break the cord 
that held it and bleating piteously. As he slowly ap- 
proached I could see the phosphorescent glow of his eyes, 
which appeared to increase in brilliancy as he crept nearer. 
When he had arrived within ten paces he crouched a.s 
though about to spring, but after remaining in that posi- 
tion for several seconds he suddenly arose to his full 
height and began to circle the sheep, evidently suspecting , 
a trap. The lioness had in the meantime crept cautiously 
forward until she was within a few paces of her lord and 
master, and was apparently about to disregard the cau- 
tion of the latter and spring upon the sheep. As I did not 
want to sacrifice the helpless animal, I glanced at my com- 
panions and saw that they understood that the critical time 
had arrived. Leaning in their direction I whispered in- 
structions for Allen to fire at the lioness, while the Mata- 
bele and I would take the Hon, adding that they should fire 
at the flash of my gun. A second later the lion turned his 
side toward me, and aiming at a point just back of his 
shoulder (the uncertain light would not permit me to risk 
a head shot) I pressed the trigger. The reports of our 
rifles rang out almost simultaneously, and were followed 
by an angry roar from the lion, the lioness giving a 
frightened screech, and for a moment the smoke com- 
pletely obscured our view. When it cleared we could see 
the lioness making off slowly, staggering as she ran, while 
the lion was making ineffectual attempts to scale the 
ravine in order to reach us, a dragging foreleg showing 
that a shoulder had been broken. Quickly recharging our 
guns we fired point blank at the lion's shaggy head, jtist 
as he had secured a foothold on a ledge of rock several 
feet below us, and was somewhat relieved to see him 
tumble to the ground, although he was on his feet in an 
instant. He had apparently had enough of this unequal 
warfare, however, and staggered after his mate, which had 
already disappeared in the brush. We gave him a parting 
volley, but as he was at least 30yds. away it probably 
missed him. 
Following the wounded lions into the brush in the un- 
certain light was not to be thought of, and so we collected 
dry brushwood and built a fire, deciding to camp where 
we were during the night. On the following morning we 
took up the bloody spoor of the lion, and found him in the 
small "park" which these animals invariably clear around 
their lairs, lying on his side, stone dead. The lioness was 
nowhere to be seen, however, and as we could not spare 
the time to hunt her up (the small amount of blood on 
her spoor indicating that she was not badly wounded), we 
removed the skin of the lion with our hunting knives and 
returned to camp. On examining the carcass of the lion 
I found that one ball had pierced his left shoulder, 
splintering the bone; another had entered his mouth and 
lodged in his lungs, while two others had wounded him 
slightly about the head. Art. S. Jennings. 
In the Rockies*— IV. 
Liglit thickens, and the crow 
Makes wing to the rooky wood; 
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse. 
While night's black agents to their preys do rouse. 
— Shakespeare. 
Selecting the choicest portions of the elk, we de- 
voted the balance of the carcass to bear bait, dragging it 
along the mountain side for some distance with a couple 
of broncos in order to leave a malodorous trail for the 
benefit of Ursus horribiiis. Each morning we visited it 
in hopes that a grizzly had found it during the night, in 
which event we would await his return in the evening. 
But the abundance of berries and other food seemed to 
have kept the bears from wandering far in search of 
supper, and although we knew from the sign that there 
were some in the vicinity our bait was unmolested, save 
by the wolves, who found it the third night. 
'Returning from one of these trips, we were gratified 
by a discoverey Chad had made. The lalce has several 
arms, formed by the embouching cations, and in one of 
the remotest of 'these bodies of water Chad, while fishing 
and exploring that morning, had located the feeding 
grounds of a bull moose, and we determined to spend the 
night there in hopes of getting a shot as he came down 
to the lake. We took a nap after dinner, and late in the 
afternoon Dan, Chad and I tossed our blankets into the 
canoe and embarked in this nocturnal expedhion. 
Across the lake, m the solitude and silence of the twi- 
light, our canoe sHpped as noiselessly as the funeral 
barge in Tennyson's "Elaine," and then along the oppo- 
site shore beneath the mountainous mass of rock that 
rises a sheer i,000ft. from the water's edge, cut with 
chasms and caves, and graved with fantastic figures by 
the action of the wind and wave. Weird profiles and masks 
looked down and frowned from the rocky wahs, and a 
sense of loneliness and mystery fell upon us. 
At last we ro.unded a rocky promontory, and came in 
view of our camping round. It was a level, meadowy 
expanse at the mouth of a cation, from out of which a 
torrent rushed and poured into the lake its limpid water 
distilled from the snow fields above. The soft soil of the 
meadow was torn by many hoofs, its succulent herbage 
cropped close. Below it, in a little cove concealed from 
view, Chad made our camp, and while he was preparing 
supper I went up with rod in hand to look over the 
meadows and whip the stream that came down out of the 
cation. 
It was rapidly growing dark upon the shore of the 
lake, and night had already fallen within the canon waHs. 
With a white moth I whipped the stream a short distance 
up from the lake, and landed a couple of beauties, who 
put up a noble fight in that swift water. Leaving it, I 
started back on a straight cut through the meadow. As 
soon as I was beyond the deafening influence of the roar- 
ing torrent, I heard, or thought I heard, a sound. Paus- 
ing. I peered vainly through the shadows, and concen- 
trated all my powers in the sense of hearing. I had just 
started on again, when suddenly something startled the 
stillness — a swishing sound; gazing in the direction whence 
it came, I descried on the mountain side above me a big 
bear complacently sitting on his haunches and stripping 
a bush of its berries at one fell swoop. So closely did his 
color assimilate with his surroundings that my eye had 
probably passed him over several times until, guided by 
the sound, he was located. With a lurching motion, much 
like a sailor on land, he stf ode to the next bush, and, ^- 
