CHASSE EY THE NATIVES. 
143 
on the Cape Colony, Delegorgue tells us, are per¬ 
fectly well aware. And should the beast be met 
with at such times, they, presuming on his blind¬ 
ness, fearlessly attack him. Their plan of proceed¬ 
ing is as ingenious as daring : — 
C£ One of them, carrying a large shield of a con¬ 
cave form, made of thick buffalo hide, approaches 
the animal boldly, and hurls at him an assegai, or 
javelin. The lion bounds on the aggressor, but the 
man in the meanwhile has thrown himself at full 
length on the ground, covered by his buckler. 
Whilst the beast is trying the effect of his claws 
and teeth on the concave side of the shield, where 
they make no impression, he loses a favourable 
opportunity. He redoubles his efforts. And in the 
meantime the armed men surround him, and pierce 
his body with numerous assegais, all of which he 
fancies he receives from the individual lying beneath 
the shield. The assailants retire, the lion grows 
faint, and soon falls beside the Caffre with the 
buckler, who takes care not to move until the 
terrible brute has ceased to exhibit signs of life. 5 ’ 
In other parts of the country the natives form a 
ring, in the old Scottish fashion, around the lion, 
and attack him on all sides. 
Harris, when speaking of a hunt of this kind, 
says :— £e In accordance with African caprice, which 
assigns a parasol to the male instead of the female 
sex, the sons of the desert are on these occasions 
provided with a long pointed staff, surmounted with 
black ostrich feathers, which then prove very ser¬ 
viceable ; for being stuck in the ground at the 
