Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-08-15

occurred when they have attacked II. /
remember one man, a European, who had
spent the night in tree watching male
lion which had sprung into the camp and
seized piece of meat, kindly taking no
notice of the terrified scramble he caused,
and which, after roaring for little, was
joined by two lionesses, the three proceed
ing to eat all the buflalo-meat in stock,
one always keeping guard while the other
two went to water.
This is habit of theirs when they have
killed anything, to protect it from vul-
lures, wolves, and jackals, which, if not
prevented, would pick the bones clean in
few minutes.
know a Dutch hunter, a very power
ful man, who was once sleeping out near
the Nkwavuma. He had been unsuccess-
fully pursuing game all day, and had
made no camp fence or other protection,
as he had got no meat with him. During
the night he was awoke by something
catching hold of hold of his arm Think
ing it was wolf he made tremendous
effort to free himself, striking out at it
with the disengaged arm. The blow was
such that if il did not knock the animal
down il any rate drove IL back, and en-
abled him to snatch up his rifle and fire.
The lion, as to his astonishment it turned
out to be, jumped away roaring, and next
morning was found dead few yards off.
They are excessively fond of eating
buffalo and other game, killed too late in
the day to be broken up, and, even when
the hunters are sleeping by it, they will
come almost within the glare of the fire,
and tear and crunch away, taking no
notice of shots or stones, but an Occasion
al growl, unless hit, when they are pretty
tp ms lya int hn
of the camp and do all the mischief they
can. Apropos of this, remember hear
ing of very plucky thing done by
native hunter of friend ofmine. He had
killed buffalo and was sleeping out by
it alone, and during the night heard
crunching going on that only lions
powerful jaw could produce. He got up,
| and by the dim light of a third-quarter
moon could just make out the outlines of
two lions, about two yards off. He took
steady aim-he only had a single barrel
and fired at the nearest, which made
bound upward and fell dead. The other
| took no notice, and after a minute resum-
ed its meal, upon which he quietly loaded
and shot it dead upon the spot. 1t show
ed great pluck, for, alone in the dark with
| two lions, and only one shot to trust to- is
| anything but pleasant position.
Sometimes have heard the most ex-
traordinary concerts going on round
game the lions were feeding on, wolves,
hyenas, and jackals keeping up contin-
ual round of bowling, squealing and
laughing, which, being interpreted, meant,
l suppose, that they were very hungry
and wished the lions would clear out and
| let them begin. 1t is by no means un-
usual to find wolf or jackal lying dead,
punished on the spot for daring to ap-
proach too near the bigger robbers sup
per, and | have often seen the spoor of
where lion had chased wolves several
hundred yards away from his prey.
Much has been written about their roar,
and | must confess to having been disap-
pointed in it at first; but after time l
discovered that, though it has no resem-
blance to thunder, or anything of that
sort, it really is a very awe-inspiring
sound. 1t commences by low booming
growl, repeated two or three times, and
increasing in loudness until it becomes a
roar that fills the air, and dies away again
I in q low mutfering Lions coming from
different direction will often keep it up
for half an hour, answering one another,
and it shows how the animal is dreaded,
that the moment it is heard near camp
there is dead silence. More wood is
hastily heaped on the fire, and all the
natives uneasily shift their positions and
take up their guns and spears. More
than once l have lost a nights sleep by a
serenade of this description, the lions,
being hungry, smelling our meat and
keeping prowling about close to until
dawn. The low, warning moan uttered
by them, if you approach too near q
thicket where they are concealed, is
most unpleasant noise, and when l firs
heard it | almost mistook it for the moan
of some large animal in pain; but it in
variably means that the lion is in baC
temper, and you had better not go toe
close.
The danger, if you come to close quar-
ters with them, can hardly be exaggerated
, There are cases where, single-handed, anC
armed only with spear, native has sue
ceeded in killing one that has sprung ol
t him withoutreceiving anything but triflinl
injuries; but these are only exception
, that prove the rule that where they strik
I they kill. Unlike other large game, the.
J divide their attentions equally, springini
} from one to another, and lighting wit
5 tooth and claw in the most wonderful
l manner. 1t is a grand sight to see on
4 charge a native regiment sent out after i
e as they sometimes are, springing over tn
: heads of the first line right into the Ger
ter, flying about, knocking men dow
G with every blow, until, complete siev
!. of assigai wounds, it dies fighting.
They generally lie in the kaku.thorn
r or in the dense evergreens which line til
/ rivers, and in the summer in the reed
The best chances for killing them are ol
I tanned in the former place, as you ofte
J. come across them asleep when you al
I stealing about after game. 1t is better NJ
| fn itG hnD1 iC
n if you shoot it through the brain, its d,
i ing bound may land it on top of you; bl
n if you see one, 90 round and try to get
II shot at its back-they always lie on the
n side-and then there is good chance |
, the head or heart, with possibility
n breaking the backbone. Sometimes IL
3 bush is too thick for you to go round, al
h in that case hide, and break a twig,
d give a low whistle, and it will get up, u
}. certain what has disturbed it, and gi'
II every opportunity for "A steady shot
v Sometimes one meets them in b'
/ places, where it would be very dangerol
>. to fire if alone, when, if seen, it is be
n to stand ones ground, not attempting
# make any offensive movement, and not
" kneel down; for some reason, probab
V because they themselves always crou'
n preparatory to attack, lions will rare
10 slanu lnlS ii anyJnlng OF an ugly tempe
When you do fire try for the shoulder, {
iO if very crack shot, and not at all M
40 40 vous, the BRAIN do not aim too high,
re- 70 the forehead is perfectly fiat, and ball
u apt to glance. With male, in firing
n .a the shoulder, take care the floating ma
n which covers it does not cause you
10 aim too high, as, when the brute is ang
- and bristles up, it makes it seem a mu
~ ~ larger mark than it really is.
- When you have to take refuge in tr,
In go up as far as you can get, for if none
" its bones are broken the lion general
4 will have try at you, though, if
Wv branches are thick, there is little dang
he even within its distance.
ho In case where a few seconds del
'o % may save your life, it is worth while
'%i know that anything thrown down--a h
n en coat, etc.-will first be torn up with
te crunch of the teeth or blow of the p
by before your pursuer resumes, the cha