Litchfield enquirer., 1858-10-14
A LION HUNT.
From Dr. Ivingstone's Travels and Researches in
 South Africa.

A LION HUNT.
 From Dr. Ivingstone's Travels and Researches ir
 South Africa.
 Returning toward Kuruman, selected the beautiful valley of Mabotsa (atitude 25 deg IA min. south, longitude 26 deg. 30 min. , as the site of missionary station, and thither l removed in 1S43. Here an occurrence took place concerning which I have frequently been questioned in England, and which, but for the importunities of friends, 1 meant to have kept in store to tell my children when in my dotage. The Bakatla of the village of Mabotsa were much troubled by lions, which leaped into the cattlepens by night and destroyed their cows. They even attacked the herds in open day. This was so unusual an occurrence that the people believed that they were bewitched- "given," as they said, Unto tie power of the lions by neighboring tribe" They went once to attack the animals but, being rather a cewardly people compared to Bschuanas in general on such occasions, they returned with out killing any.
 It is we'll known that if one of the lions is kill ed, the others take the hint and leave that part of the country. So, the next time the herds were attacked, went with the people, in order to encourage them to rid themselves of the annoyance by destroying one of the marauders. We found the lions on small hill about quarter of mile ;n length and covered with trees. A circle of men was formed round it, and they gradually closed up, ascending pretty near to each other. Being down below on the plain with native school master, named Mebalwe, most excellent man, saw one of the lions sitting on piece of rock within the now closed circle of men. Me balwe fired at him before could, and the ball struck the rock on which the animal was sit ting. He bit at the spot struck, as dog does at a stick or stone thrown at him, then, leaping away, broke through the opening cir cle and esca ped uhhurt. The men were afraid to attack him, perhaps on account of their be- lief in witchcraft When the circle was re- formed, we saw two other lions in it but we were afraid to fire, lest we should strike the men, and they allowed the beasts to burst through also. If the Bakatla had acted ac- cording tot the custom of their country. they would have speared the lions in their attempt to get ont. Seeing we could not get them to kill one of the lions, we bent our footsteps toward the village: in going round the end Of the hll, however, ISaw one of the beasts sitting on piece of rock as before, but this time he had little bush in front Being about thirty yards off, took good aim at his body through the bush, and fired both barrels into it. The men then called out, He is shot he is shot ]" Others cried, He has been shot by another man too: let us go to him p did not see any one else shoot at him, but I saw the lions tail erected in anger behind the bush, and turning to the people, said, "Stop little, till I load again." When in the act of ramming down the bullets, I heard shout. Starting, and looking half round, saw the lion just in the act of springing upon me. l was upon little height he caught my shoulder as he sprang, and we both came to the ground be- low together. Growling horribly close to my ear, he shook me as terrier dog does a rat. The shock produced a stupor similar to that which seems to be felt by mouse after the first shake of the cat It caused sort of dreaminess, in which there was no sense of pain nor feeling of terror, though quite con scious of all that was happening. It was like what patients partially under the influence of chloroform describe, who see all the operation, but feel not the knife. This singular condition was not the result of any mental process. The shake annhlated fear, and allowed no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. This peculiar state is probably produced in all an- malls killed by the carnivora, and if so, is mercifnl provision by our benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death. Turning round to relieve myself of the weight, as he had one paw on the back of my head, saw his eyes directed to Mehalwe, who was trying to shoot him at distance of ten or fifteen yards. His gun, a flint one, missed fire in both barrels i; the lion immediately left me, and attacking Mebalwe, bit his thigh. Another man, whose life had saved before, after he had been toss ed by buffalo, attempted to spear the lion while he was biting Mebalwe. He left Me balwe and caught this man by the shoulder, but at that moment the bullets he had re- ceived took effect, and he fell down dead. The whole was the work of few moments. and must have been his paroxysms of dying rage. In order to take out the charm from him, the Bakatla on the following day made a huge bonfire over the carcase, which was declared to be that of the largest lion they had ever seen. Besides crunching the bone into splinters, he left eleven teeth-wounds in the upper part of my arm.
 A wound from this animals tooth resembles gun-shot wound it is generally followed by great deal of sloughing and discharge. and pains are felt in the part periodically ever af- terward. had on tartan jacket on the oc- casion, and I believe that it wiped of all the virus from the teeth that pierced the flesh, for my two companions in this affray have both suffered from the peculiar pains, while have escaped with only the inconvenience of a false joint in my limb. The man whose shoulder was wounded showed me his wound actually burst forth afresh on the same month of the following year. This curious point deserves the attention of inquirers.