52 
SPOET AND WAE. 
CHAP. VIII. 
into another gully had shot them from horseback, with¬ 
out much danger to ourselves, making a bag of four 
killed, which was not considered bad sport even in those 
days. 
The next thing was to skin the lions, which the 
after-riders did in the most expert manner ; but none of 
the horses would allow the skins to be put on them to 
be carried home, except my old trooper, who did not 
so much as wink his eye, having considered it, I fancy, 
a rather good field-day. 
One thing struck me as very curious—the two male 
lions, which were of enormous size, were of distinct 
species, although they were fraternising together. The 
first one killed was a large cream-coloured lion, with 
black hairs intermingled, and a mane larger and longer 
than any horse’s, broad, spreading, and more ragged; 
while the other was of equal size and age, but entirely 
brindle and of one colour, while the mane was short, 
scrubby, and upright. The cubs were, I think, of the 
short-mane species. 
The skins of the two lions were given to Crause and 
myself, and I sent the black-maned one to follow Sir 
Harry Smith to India ; and he long used it as a carpet 
for his tent, a worthy one for the lion-hearted old soldier 
During this shooting expedition we shot several other 
lions on the Modder and Vaal Rivers ; but our sport in 
the interior will be the subject for another paper. 
