314 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAVS 
CHAP. 
business with the native merchants, from whom he 
purchased gum-arabic from Kordofan, ivory from 
the White Nile, hides from the Arabs generally, 
cotton, and cereals, all of which, as opportunity 
offered, he either sent down the river or across the 
Korosko desert to Egypt proper. 
We were talking about lions, and he told me 
the following account of what he witnessed as he 
was returning from the White Nile upon the 
steamer, then e 7 i route towards Khartoum. 
The dry season was at its height; all the high 
grass and other herbage along the river s banks had 
been burnt by the natives, and the surface of the 
earth was black and bare. The steamer was going 
easily down stream, saving her fuel, and as they 
floated along, with the paddles revolving slowly, a 
lion was observed upon the dark and lately black¬ 
ened bank. The vessel was at once stopped, and a 
trustworthy Tokroori hunter of Lafargues volun¬ 
teered to shoot the lion. The man was confident ; 
accordingly he was put ashore, armed only with a 
single-barrelled rifle. 
From the poop-deck of the steamer the whole 
aflair was distinctly visible. They saw the bold 
Tokroori advance unconcernedly towards the lion, 
which, although standing when first observed, now 
immediately crouched. The Tokroori advanced 
until he was only a few yards distant: he then 
halted, and fired. With a loud roar the lion flew 
to the attack, and with a terrific blow it struck the 
hunter upon the shoulder. The effect was awful; 
