SELECTING A LEADER. 
101 
heard the oxen come trotting along in front of the 
vehicle, as if sharply driven. On raisiug my head 
from ray pillow, I perceived a lioness following 
within twenty yards of them, and next moment her 
mate, a remarkable-looking lion, with a shaggy 
inane which swept the ground, appeared in the 
yellow grass in front of the oxen, waiting to put 
them to flight. The plot had evidently been pre¬ 
concerted between the pair, this being the usual 
manner in which the lion attacks the buffalo. 
Fortunately, the oxen would not run for them, and 
the lions seemed surprised at the confidence of their 
game.” 
Elsewhere it is stated that when lions are 
44 trooped,” and chased, or when they apprehend 
danger, one of the number acts as sentinel to the 
rest; and if we are to give credit to what Moffatt 
tells us, 44 on the authority of Africaner” (the famous 
Namaqua chief spoken of a few pages back) 44 and 
other men of God, and men who have been expe¬ 
rienced Nimrods,” lions, on the occasion of these 
their hunts, are also in the habit of selecting a 
leader. 
44 The old lion,” said the chieftain in question, 
44 when with his ‘children 5 (as the natives call his 
whelps, though they be nearly as big as himself) 
of course, acts in this capacity ; but when numbers 
of lions are together, and happen to come on game, 
the oldest or ablest creeps up to the object, whilst 
the others crouch on the grass. If he be successful, 
as is generally the case, he retires from the victim, 
and lies down to breathe and rest, for perhaps a 
