144 
THE LION. 
proper moment, they divert the attention of the 
charging beast from the object of his vengeance, 
and thus enable the rest of the party to rush on and 
destroy him with their assegais.” 
By the native chieftains the “ ring-hunts 55 in 
question are at times conducted on a very grand 
scale, both as regards the number of men taking 
part in them, and the extent of ground embraced by 
the cordon. 
“ On these occasions,” says Harris, when speak¬ 
ing of the redoubtable Moselekatse, <e he is attended 
by a retinue of several thousands of his subjects, 
who extend themselves in a circle, enclosing many 
miles of country, and gradually converging so as to 
bring incredible numbers of wild animals within a 
small focus. Still advancing, the ring at length 
becomes a thick and continuous line of men, hem¬ 
ming in the game on all sides, which, in desperate 
efforts to escape, displays the most daring and 
dangerous exhibition of sport that can be conceived. 
As the scene closes, the spears of the warriors deal 
death around them, affording a picture thrilling to 
the sportsman, and striking in the extreme.” 
The chieftain just named, I may mention in 
parenthesis, was possessed of enormous herds of 
horned cattle, many of which were pastured at long 
distances from his own residence, and, as with cattle 
everywhere else in the wilds of Africa, were not un-. 
frequently attacked by lions. cc When such was 
the case,” says Harris (and Moffatt, at page 543, 
testifies to the like effect), “ the death either of the 
beasts, or of one or more of the guardians of the 
