OUSTING A LION FROM A BRAKE. 
193 
was interrupted by the arrival of several natives, 
who, in breathless haste, related that an ongeama, or 
lion, had just killed one of their goats close to the 
mission station (Richterfeldt), and begged of me to 
lend them a hand in destroying the beast. They 
had so often cried “ wolf,” that I did not give 
much heed to their statements; but, as they per¬ 
sisted in their story, I at last determined to ascer¬ 
tain the truth. Having strapped to my waist a 
shooting-belt, containing the several requisites of a 
hunter—such as bullets, caps, knife, &c., I shoul¬ 
dered my trusty double-barrelled gun (after loading 
it with steel-pointed balls), and followed the 
men. 
In a short time, we reached the spot where the 
lion was believed to have taken refuge. This was 
in a dense tamarisk brake, of some considerable 
extent, situated partly on, and partly below, the 
sloping banks of the Swakop, near to its junction 
with the Omutenna, one of its tributaries. 
On the rising ground, above the brake in ques¬ 
tion, were drawn up, in battle array, a number of 
Damaras and Namaquas, some armed with assegais, 
and a few with guns. Others of the party were in 
the brake itself, endeavouring to oust the lion. 
But as it seemed to me that the “ beaters ” were 
timid, and, moreover, somewhat slow in their move¬ 
ments, I called them back, and, accompanied by 
only one or two persons, as also a few worthless 
dogs, entered the brake myself. It was rather a 
dangerous proceeding, for, in places, the cover was 
so thick and tangled as to oblige me to creep on 
o 
