The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-09
Firm, Csaia,ing's HarhHg .'rsHiWss ~ Sph lfrico.
MAN-EATING LION,
rrAUrrL TRAGEDY.


On the 2oth wr arrived NJ the small yillago
of Bakalhati These natives told me that cl-
here ana nunr rrru ant-W',t'" @9tSsiir- ,sids
the rivers hnnk within thirty yards of tho
water aud about on" hundred yards oi the
native village, Having outspauncd, we at
once set about making r the cattle krnd
Of the worst description Of thorn trees. or
this had now bcroulc very particular, since
INV severe Ions by the lions on the hrst ol tins
month"; ana my rattic rt.rt.r A. niitlL. seurcd
bv strong kranl, which inclo.cd mi two
wagons. the horses being matte fast Ia \ trek
towstrctchcd between the hind wheels of the
wagons.
had vet, however, a fearful lesson to
learn as to the nature aud character of the It.
on, of which | had Mt one time ~ little fear,
and on this night horrible tragedy was tn
W. '.s,-,l 4,iila laaaly cainp Of so very
awful aud appalling n nature To make the
-bl6od curdlc in our veins
worked til near sundown at one side Of
the kranl with Ilchdric, my first wagon-drlV-
cr-- cutting down trees with my aN, and
he engaged in dragging rhcm to the kraal-
When the kraa for the cattle WAS finished
turned my attention to making pot of bar
ley broth, and lighted fire between the
wagons aud the water, clusv on the rivers
bank. under a dense grove of shady trees,
tmakiur no SORT ut X rHttl- around our sitting
place for the evening .
The Hottcntots, without any reason, uiado
their FIRE about fifty yards from mime they
according to their usual custom, being saus-
fled with the shelter of large dense burh.----
The evening passed away eheertully. Soon
after il was dark we heard elephants break
| ing trees in The forest across the rIvgr, ana
once or twice strobe away into the darkness
some distance from tine 6residO to stand and
! listen 10 thcir heavy rTGHrt.
! at this moment. little dreamed of the i'm
mnent peril Ia which | was exposing my hio
nor thought that blood Thirsty nan-eator In
on was cr,uching near, and only Watching
/ his ouportuniiy to spring into the kraai, amt
/ ronsitru ono of us la a nn~i h"-~'ih' -Vn'h'
| -, "a ~ hours amer the sun went down
IL called my men 10 come and take their coffee
and supper, which was ready for them at the
fire: and after supper three ot them returned
/ before their comrades TO their own hrvsidC
and Law down;thesc were John Stotuius Hen
I TiFic md RuVteFr-In- -feM minutes an OK
came out hy the gate OF the kraal and walked
round the ba,k OF it.. llendric got up and
drove him IN again, and then weat back Ia his
| frcside and lay down. Hcndrie and Ruytcr
Law on one side of the FIRE under one blanket
and John Stofous Icy ON the other. AZ th's
moment | was sitting taking some harley
broth; our fire was very small, and the night
pitch dark and windy. Owing to our proN-
iimity 10 the native yillagc,the wood was very
scarce, the Balalabari having burnsd II all
in their own fires.
Suddenly the appalling md murderous
voice OF "A blood-thirsty lion burst upon my
ear within a few yards of us, followed by the
shrickiug Of the llotteutots. Again and a
/ uain the mur,lerous roar of attack was repeat"
! ! I'd. We heard John and Ruyter shrek,--
"The lion the lion :" still, for few moments
we thought he was but chasing one OF the
dogs round the kr,I; nut. ~ instant Sioi=
olus rushed into the midst OF ms almost speech
hes with fear and horror his eyes bursting
from their sockets and shrcked out--s,Ih he
lion shc lionl he has got IIcndrio; he'dra2-
ged him away from the fire beside me-
struck him with the burning brands upon ms
head. bni he would not let go his hold Hen
drie is dead oh God Hendrie ls tiesd+:.i .i'o'
nus take FIRE aud seek him.
The rest OF my people rushed about, shrIek-
ing and. yelling as IL they were mad; was
at once angry with them for their tolly, ana