164 
THE LION. 
had passed out through his right haunch. It was 5 
therefore, to ine matter of wonder that he had so 
long survived his wound. 
This was decidedly the most exciting hunting 
scene I ever witnessed. Besides my own people, 
more than one hundred Damaras, (chiefly belonging 
to a caravan bound for the Ovampo country, and 
whose encampment was next to my own), were in 
the field vociferating frightfully, and waving and 
darting their ox-tailed plumaged assegais about with 
a ferocity and earnestness that would have made a 
stranger think they were preparing for some dread¬ 
ful battle. Nearly as many more men, to say 
nothing of a host of women and children, were seen 
hastening towards us from the two camps, which 
were in full view. Indeed, before the lion had 
breathed his last, more than three hundred human 
beings were on the spot. 
Having giving the needful orders as to the disposal 
of our prize, we took up the trail of the other lion 
who, to judge from the quantity of blood lost, must 
have been seriously wounded. Tracking him for 
about half a mile, w r e came up with him in a dense 
bush. Scared, however, by the tremendous noise 
made by the Damaras, and not having a sufficient 
number of dogs left, the greater part having re¬ 
turned home, to bring him to bay, he managed to 
escape us. Once, indeed, we caught sight of the 
beast whilst he was crossing a small opening, but 
here the cover becoming thicker than ever we left 
him. The chase, though a short one, was exceed¬ 
ingly animate; and had I been alone, that is, with 
