Polynesian., 1850-12-14

FEARFUL TRAGEDY-A MAN-EATING LII
oN-On the 9th we arrived at a small viii
lage of Bakalahari. These natives told me
that elephants were abundant on the oppo-
site side of the river. l accordingly re-
solved to halt here and hunt, and drew my |
wagons up on the rivers bank, within thirty
yards of the water, and about one hundred
yards from the native village. Having out
spanned, we at once set about making for
the cattle krall of the worst description of
thorn-trees. OF this | had now become
very particular, since my severe loss by Ii
ons on the first of this month; and my cattle
were, at night, secured by strong kraal,
which enclosed my two wagons, the horses
being made fast to trek-tOw stretched be-
tween the hind wheels Of the wagons. /
had yet, however, fearful lesson to learn
as to the nature and character of the lion, of
which had at one time entertained so little
fear; and on this night horrible tragedy
was to be acted in my little lonely camp of
so very awful and appalling nature as to
make the blood curdle in our veins.
worked till near sun6own at one side of the
kraal with Hendric, my first wagon-driver-
4 | cutting down the trees with my AK, and he
dragging them to the kraal. When the
kraal for the cattle was finished, l turned
my attention to making a pot of barley
broth, and lighted fire between the wag-
ons and the water, close on the rivers bank,
under dense grove of shady trees, making
no sort of kraa! round our sitting-place for
the evening.
The hottentots, without any reason, made
their fire about fifty yards from mine; they,
according to their usual custom, being salts
fed with the shelter of a large dense bush.
The evening passed away cheerfully. Soon
after it was dark we heard elephants break
ing the trees in the forest across the river,
and once or twice strobe away into the
darkness some distance from the fireside to
stand and listen to them. / little, at that
moment, deemed Of the imminent peril to
; which was exposing my life, nor thought
that a bloodthirsty man-eater lion was
crouching near, and only watching his op-
portunity to spring into the kraal, and con-
sign one Of us to a most horrible death.
> About three hours after the sun went down
:, called to my men to come and take their
coffee and supper, which was ready for them
at my fire; and after supper three of them
returned before their comrads to their own
freside, and laid down; these were John Sto-
folus, Hendric, and Ruyter. In a few mi
, nutes an OK came out by the gate Of the
kraal and walked round the back Of it.
Hendric got up and drove him in again, and
then went back to his !ireside and lay down.
Hendric and Ruyter lay on one side of the
fire under one blanket, and John Stofolus
lay on the other At this moment l was sit
ting taking some barey-broth; our fire was
very small, and the night was pitch-dark
and windy. Owing to our proximity to the
native village the wood was very scarce, the
Bakalahari having burned it all in their fires.
Suddenly the appalling and murderous
voice of an angry, bloodhirsty lion burst
upon my ear within a few yards of Us, fol-
lowed by the shreking of the HottentOts.
! Again and again the murderous roar of at
= tack was repeated. We heard John and
Ruyter shrek "The lion the lion p" still,
: for a few moments, we thought he was but
chasing one of the dogs round the kraal;
i but, next instant, John Stofolus rushed into
the midst of us almost speechless with fear
and terror, his eyes bursting from their
sockets, and shrieked oui '' The lion the
lion He has got Hendric; he dragged him
away from the fire beside me. | struck him
with the burning brands upon his head, but
he would not let 60 his hold, Hendric is
dead Oh GodI Hendric is deed Let US
take fire and seek him." The rest of my
people rushed about, shrieking as if they
were mad | was at once angry with them
for their folly, and told them that if they did
not stand still and keep quiet the lion would
have another of US; and that very likely
there was troop of them. | ordered the
dogs, which were nearly all fast, to be made
loose, and the fire to be increased as tar as
could be- then shouted Hendricks name,
but all was still told my men that Hen
dric was dead, and that regiment OF SOL
diers could not now help him, and, hunting
my dogs forward, had every thing brought
within the cattle-kraal, when we lighted our
| fire and closed the entrance as well as we
could.
/ My terrified people sat round the fire with
guns in their hands till the day broke, still
fancying that every moment the lion would
return and spring again into the midst of US.
When the dogs were first let 60, the stupid
brutes, as dogs often prove when most re-
quired, instead Of going at the lion, rushed
fiercely on one another, and fought desper-I
ately for some minutes. After this they got
his wind, and, going at him, disclosed to US
his position: they kept up continued bark
ing until the day dawned, the lion OCCASION
ally springing after them and driving them
in upon the kraal The horrible monster
lay all night within forty yards of US, con-
suming the wretched man whom he had cho-
sen for his prey. He had dragged him into
little hollow at the back of the thick bush
beside which the fire was kindled, and there |
he remained till the day dawned, careless
Of our proximity.
1t appeared that when the unfortunate
Hendrc rose to drive in the OK, the lion had
watched HIM to his fireside, and he had
scarcely laid down when the brute sprang
upon him and Ruyter (for both lay under
one blanket). with his appalling roar, and,
roaring as he lay, grappIed him with his
fearful claws, and kept biting him on the
breast and shoulder. all the while feeling for