True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-01-21
From the Young Yager."
HOW CONGO KILLED THE LIONESS
by CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

by CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
Congo has now become an object OF as
great interest as in the morning, Greater
in fact, for the new danger he was about
to undergo--a combat with an enrageG
lioness-was counted still greater than
that of Iording the Gareep, and the in.
terest was in proportion. With eager
eyes the young yagers stood watching
him as he prepared himself for the en-
counter.
He was but short while in getting
ready. He was seen to enter the Van
Wyk wagon, and in less than three min
uteS come out again fully armed and equip
ped. The lioncss would not have long
10 waL'ior her assailant.
The equipment of the Kallir must
needs be described.
Ii was simple enough, though odd to
Strangers eye. 1t was neither more nor
less than the equipment Of a Zeoloo war
riUr.
In his right hand he held bunch of
assegais, in all six of them.
What is an assegai!"
1t is straight lance or spear, though
not to be used as one. 1t is smaller than
either Of these weapons, shorter and
more splendor in the shaft, but like them
armt with an iron head of arrow-shape.
In battle it is not retained in the hand,
but flung at the enemy, often from con-
siderable distance. 1t is, in short a
"javeln,.' or ".dart, such as was
used in Europe before fire. arms became
known, and such as at present forms the
war weapon Of all the savage tribes of
Southern Africa, but especially those of
the Kaffir nations. And we'll know they
how TO project this dangerous missile
At the distance of a hundred yards they
will send it with force as great, and an
aim as unerring as either bullet or ar
row! The assegai is flung by a single
arm. ..
Of these javelins Congo carried six,
spanning their slender shafts with his
long, muscular fingers.
The assegais were not the oldest part
Of his equipment. That was remarka.
BILE thing which he bore on his left arm.
1t was OF oval form, full six feet in length
by about three in width, concave on The
side towards his body, and equally convex
on the opposite. More than anything
else lid it resemble small boat or canoe
made of skins stretched over framework
of wood, and Of such materials was it
constructed. 1t was, in fact. shield
Zooloo shicld--lhough of somewhat
larger dimensions than those used in war.
Notwithstanding its great size it was far
from clumsy, but light, tight, aud firm,
so much so that arrow, assegai, or bull
let, striking it upon the convex side,
would have glanced off as from plate of
steel. ID
A pair of strong bands fastened inside
along the bottom enabled the wearer to
move it about'at will and placed upright,
with its lower end resting upon the ground
ir would have sheltered the body of the
lallest man. 1t sheltered that of Congo,
and Congo was no dwarf.
Without another word he walked out,
the huge carapace on his left arm, five of
the assegais cluIched in his left hand,
while one that he had chose for the first
throw he held in his right. This one
was. grasped near the middle, and car
ried upon thebalance. aa
No change had taken place in the sit
uation of affairs out upon the plain. In
fact, there had not been much time for
any, Scarce five minutes had elapsed
from the lime the Kaffir stated his pur-
pose, until he went forth to execute it.
The lioness was still roaming about, Ut
tering her frightful screams. The hy-
enas were still there. The moment the
Kaflir was seen approaching the COW ard.
ly hyenas fled with howl, and soon dis
appeared under the bosch.
Far other with the lioness. She seem.
ed to pay noregard to theapproach of the
hunter. She neither turned her head,
nor looked in the direction he was com
ing. Her whole attention was absorbed
by the mass Of bodies upon the plain.
SHE yelled her savage notes as she regar-
ded them. She was no doubt, lamenting