The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-26
popotani, buffsloes, rhinoeeros, girafes,

nassed at home, with the relaxation Oh hon-
inc In the beautiful river Settle. sIhere
was an immense quantity OF large game
onJI had made mixed bag of elephants
h;nnonotami. buffaloes, rhinoceros, cranes,
md Great numbers Of the large antelopes.
T;ons although numerous, were exceed
;nnlr d;ficult to bag; there was no chance
by. :, tbe extreme risk of creeping through
Tho tb;ckest Jungle. Upon two or three oc-
cas;ons I had shot them by crawling into
the;r very deps, where they had dragged
their prey and I must acknowledge that
thew we're much more frightened at me than
was at them. | had generally obtained
most difficult and unsatisfactory shot al
close quarters /; sometimes l rolled them
over with q mortal wound, and they dis
appeared, to die in an impenetrable Jun
Gle but at al times fortune was on
nv side. On moonlight nights / gene
rally laid in wait for these animals with
GREAT patience; sometimes shot hippo
posami, and used hind quarter as oalt
for lions. while I watched in ambush al
about twenty yards distance but the nye'
mas generally appeared, like evil spirits,
and dragged away the bait before the mons
ba5 a chance. I never fired at these sea-
veneers, as they are most useful creatures
and are contemplate as game. My ARABS
had made their fortune, as had gwen them
al the meat of the various animals, which
thew dried and transported to Geera, to-
cether with fat, hides, &c. 1t would be
yearvipp to enumerate the happy hunting
DAYS passed throughout this country, we
were never i'll for moment, although the
thermometer was seldom below 90 degrees
during the day. The country was healthy
as it was intensely dry, and therefore 1ree
from malaria; at night the Thermometer
averaged 10 degrees, which was aelignt-
fnl temperature for those who exlst IN the
open air. 90 o;.hor
dried or in the process Of drying in tes-
toons upon the trees, we had been a great
attraction to the beasts of prey that con-
stantly prowled around our thorn-fence
during the night. One night in particular
q lion attempted to enter, but had been re-
pulsed by the Tokrooris, who pelted MIN
with frebrands. My people woke me up
and begged me to shoot him, but as 1t was
perfectly impossible to fire correctly through
the hedge of thorns, I refused to be dis
turbed vet promised to hunt for him on
the following day. Throughout the entire
night the lion prowled around the camp;
growing and uttering his peculiar cultural
sigh. Not one Of my people slept, as they
declared he would bound into the camp and
take somebody, unless they kept up the
watch-fres and drove him away with
brands. The next day, before sunrise,
called Hassan and Hadji Ali, whom lee
tured severely upon their cowardice on
former occasion, and received their promise
to follow me to death. / intrusted them
with my two Reillys No. 10, and with my
little Fletcher in hand determined tospend
the whole day in searching every thicket OF
the forest for lions, as felt convinced that
the animal that had disturbed us during
the night was concealed somewhere within
the neighboring jungle.
The whole day passed fruitlessly. ! had
crept through the thickest thorns in vain
Having an abundance of meat, had refused
The most tempting shots at bufaloes and
large antelopcs, as I had devoted myself
exclusively to lions. was much disap-
pointed, as the evening had arrived with
out shot having been fired; and as the sun
had nearly set wandered slowly towards
home. Passing through alternate open
slades few yards in width, hemmed in Oh
all sides by thick jungle, | was carelessly
my rifle upon my shoulder as l
pushed my way through the opposing thorns,
when & sudden roar just before me at once
brought the rifle upon full cock, and | saw
a magnificent lion standing in the middle OF
the glade about ten yards from me. lie had
been lying on the ground, and had started
to his feet upon hearing me approach
through the jungle. For an instant he
stood in IN attitude CT attention, as we were
hardly visible; but at the same moment
took quick but sure shot with the little
Fletcher. He gave convulsive bound, bui
rolled over backwards. Before he could
recover himself l fired the left-hand
barrel. 1t was glorious sight. / had
advanced q few steps into the glade,
and Hassan had quickly handed me a
spare rifle, while Taher Moor stood by me,
sword in hand. The lion, in the greatest
fury, with his shaggy name bristling In the
air, roared with death-like growls, as open
mouthed he endeavored to charge upon US ;
but he dragged his headquarters upon the
ground, and | saw Immediately that the
little Fletcher had broken his spine. In
his tremendous exertions to attack he rolled
over and over, gnashing his horrible jaws,
and tearing holes in the sandy ground at
each blow of his tremendous paw that
would have crushed mans skull like an
shell. SEEING that he was horS de COM
bat, / took it coolly, as it was already dusk
and the lion having rolled into dark and
thick bush, thought it would be advisable
to defer the final attack, as he would be
dead before morning. We were not ten
minutes walk from the camp, at which we
quickly arrived, and my men greatly re-
joiced at the discontinue of their enemy,
as they were convinced that he was the
same lion that had attempted to enter the
zareeba.
On the following morning, before sunrise,
started with nearly all my people and a
powerful camel with the intention of bring
ing the lion home entire. l rode my horse
Tetel, as he had frequently shown great
courage, and I wished to prove whether he
would advance to the body Of lion.
Upon arrival near the spot which we sup
posed to have been the scene of the encoun-
ter we were rather puzzled, as there was
nothing to distinguish the locality; one
place exactly resembled another, as the
country was fiat and sandy, interspersed
with thick jungle of green nabbuk we ac-
cordingly spread out to beat for the lion.
Presently Hadji Ali cried out, "There he
lies, dead !" and l Immediately rode to the
spot, together with the people. A tremen-
deus roar greeted US as the lion started to
his fore-feet, and with his beautiful name
erect, and his great hazel eyes flashing fire,
he gave succession Of deep, short roars,
and challenged us to fight. This was a
~,,,,l ,,;ot,ro bo lcota6 Gko q frna lord