132 
IN AFRICA 
swamps, scouting every bit of cover and combing 
the tall grass for hours at a time. Hartebeest, topi, 
zebra, eland, oribi, reedbuck, and small grass ante¬ 
lope were upon all sides and at all times. 
The herds of zebra and hartebeest literally num¬ 
bered thousands, but, except as the latter were 
occasionally required for food for the porters, we 
seldom tried to shoot them. Every Boer settler we 
saw was interviewed and every promising lion clue 
was followed to the bitter end, but without result. 
Sometimes we remained in one camp a day or more 
in order to search the lion retreats more thoroughly, 
but never a black-maned lion was routed from his 
lair. A few weeks later, when the dry grass had 
been burned to make way for new grass, as is done 
each year, the chances would be greatly improved, 
and we hoped for better luck when we retraced our 
steps from Elgon in December. Before that time 
it would be like trying to find a needle in a hay¬ 
stack to find a lion in the tall grass, and a good deal 
more dangerous if we did find one. There were lots 
of them there, but they were taking excellent care 
of themselves. In July, three months previous, 
Mr. McMillan, Mr. Selous, and Mr. Williams were 
in this same district after black-maned lions. They 
heard them every night, but saw only one in several 
weeks. This one, however, made a distinct impres¬ 
sion. Williams saw it one day and wounded it at 
two hundred yards. The lion charged and could 
not be stopped by Williams’ bullets. It was only 
after it had leaped on the hunter and frightfully 
