THRILLING ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 1S3 
preys on all the larger varieties of the antelopes, and on both varie¬ 
ties of the gnoo. The zebra, which is met with in large herds 
throughout the interior, is also a favorite object of his pursuit. 
Lions do not refuse, as has been asserted, to feed upon the 
vension that they have not killed themselves. I have repeatedly 
discovered lions of all ages which had taken possession of, and were 
feasting upon, the carcases of various game quadrupeds which had 
fallen before my rifle. 
The lion is very generally diffused throuehout the secluded 
LIONS CAPTURING A BUFFALO. 
parts of Southern Africa. He is, however, nowhere met with in 
great abundance, it being very rare to find more than three, or even 
two families of lions frequenting the same district and drinking at 
the same fountain. When a greater number were met with, I 
remarked it was owing to long-protracted droughts, which, by dry¬ 
ing nearly all the fountains, had compelled the game of various 
districts to crowd the remaining springs, and the lions, according 
to their custom, followed in the wake. 
