The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-03-28
Vol. 6. No. IS, Whole No. 295.
THE LIONS AFRICA

scenes an Southern AFRICA, and from among the thrill
ling adventures Of the intrepid Missionary, we take
the following:
Our journey lay wild and dreary country i'm
habited by Baalas only, and but sptinkng Of
these. On the night Of the third days journey, hay
ing halted at pool, (Khohoe,) listened, on the
lonely plain, for the sound Of the nhabitant but all
was silent. We could discover no lights, and, amid
the darkness were unable to trace footmarks to the
! pool. We let loose our weared oxen to drink and
graze but as we were ignorant Of tho character Of the
company with which we might have to spend the
night, we took brand, and examined the edges
OF the pool 10 see from the imprints, what animals
were in the habit Of drinking there, and, with tetror
discovered many spoons Of lions We Immediately
collected the oxen, and brough them TO the wagon to
which we fastened them with the ST rengest thongs
we had, having discovered in their appearance some
thing rather wild, indicating that either from
sight they knew danger was near. The two Baro-
longs had brought young with them land though
recommended their making her fast also, they very
humerously replied that she wise 10 leave the
wagon and oxen, even though lion should be seem
ted We took little supper which was followed by
our evening hymn and prayer. had retired only
few minutes to my wagon TO prepare for the night,
when the whole of tho oxen started to their feet A
lion had seized the cow only few steps from their
tails, and dragged it to the distance of thirty or forty
yards, where distinctly heard it tearing the animal
and breaking the bones, while its bellewings were
most pitful When these wero over, l seized
my gun, but it too dark to see any
object at half the distance, aimed at the spot
where the dcvourng jaws ofthc lion were heard
fired again and again, to which he replied with tro-
mon .t II,
wards the wagon, exceedingly to terrfy the OK
en- The two Baroongs engaged to take frebrands,
advance few yards, and throw them at him. so as
to afford me degree Of light that might take aim,
the place being busy. They had scarcely di-charg-
ed them from their hands, ween the fame went out
and the enraged animal rushed towards them with
such swiflness, that had barely time turn the gun
ard fire between the and the lion, and providen-
TALLY the ball struck the ground Immediately under his
head, as we found by examination the following NOR
ming. From this surpris" he returned growing dread
fully. The men durted through son,c thorn bushes
with countenances indicative Of the Utmost terror. 1t
was Tow the opinion Of all that we had better let him
alone if he did not mucst US.
Having but scantS supply of wood to keep up a
lire, one man crept among the bushes side of
the pool, while proceeded for the samo purpose on
the other side had not gone far, when, lonking
upwards TO the edge Of small basin, discerncd be-
tw cen me and the sky four animals, whose attention.
appeared to be directed to me, ly the noise made
in break ng dry stick On Closer inspecton,I found
that The large round hairy headed visitors lions;
and retreaed on my lands and feet towards the 9TH
or side of the pool, when, coming 10 my wagon dri-
yer. TO inform him Of our dafgcr, found him looking
with no little alarm, in an opposite direction, and
with good rcason, as no fewer than two lions, with
cub, were eyeing us both, apparently as uncertain
about distruslful of them They APP
peared, they always do in the dark twice the usu
al size. We thankfully decamped TO the wagon, and
sat down 10 keep alive bur scanty fire, while we s-
tened TO the lion tearing and devouring his prey
When any Of the oher hungry lions dired 10 approach
he would pursue Il c,n for some PAGES, with horrid
howl, which made poor trcmbe, and pro-
duced any thing but agreeable sensations in ourselves
We had reason Tor alarm, lest any Of the six lions we
saw, fearless Of small fire. might rush in among
us. The two Ba'o'ongs we're grudging the lion his
fat meal, and would row and then break the silence
with deep sigh, and expressions of regret that such
n vagabond lion should have such feast their
cow, which they anticipated would have afforded
them many a draught of luscious milk. Before the
the carcass in his stomach, he collected the hend,
backbone. parts of the legs, the paunch, which he
emplicd of its coptens, and the two clubs which had
been thrown at him, and walked off, leaving nothing
but some fragments of bones, and one of my balls,
which had hit the cartass instead Of himself.
When it was liyh, examined the spot, and found,
from the foot marks that the lion large one,
and had devoured the cow himself had some diff
Guilty in believing this, but was fully convinced by
the Barolongs pointing out to me that the foot marks
of the other lions had come within thirty yards
of the spot, two acknls only had approached to lick
up any little lenvirss. Tho pursued the sPoor
10 find The Fragments, where the lion had deposited
them, while he retired to the thickit to sleep during
the day. had often heard how much n large bun
CRY lion could cat, Int nothing less than demonsra-
ton would have convinced me that it possible
for him To have eaten all the flesh Of the heifer, and