Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-25
A LION FAMILY AT UPPER.

A LION FAMILY AT UPPER.
Mr.. W. II. DrummOnd, who has spent a
number of years in Kaffraria South Afri-
ct.) has published IL book in which he re-
la ties his experience us hunter of the mag
nificent game which abounds in that wild
region. The following extract is from the
chapter on lions.
| II once had the pleasure of, unobserved
myself, watching lion family feeding. |
was encamped on the Black Umfolosi, Zu-
lrlland, and towards evening, expecting d
friend, went out 10 meet him, and in
stead of taking gun, which should have
done ninety nine times out of a hundred.
[ only took up one of the Kafirs' spears,
not intending to go beyond a couple of
hundred yards. However, not meeting
my friend, went on, and at about half
mile from camp I saw a herd of zebras
galloping across me, and when they were
nearly two hundred yards on I saw a vel
low body flash toward the leader, and saw
him fall beneath the lions weight. There
was tall tree about sixty yards from the
place, and anxious to see what went on, I
! stalked up TO it, while the lion was too
much occupied to look around him, and
climbed up. He had by this time quite
killed the beautifully-striped animal, but
instead Of proceeding to eat it, he got up
and roareGl vigorously, until there was an
answer, and in few minutes lioness, &C
companied by four whelps, came tro5ting
up from the same direction as the zebra,
which no doubt she had been to drive to-
wards her husband. They formed fine
picture as they all stood around the car
cass, the whelps tearing and biting at it.,
but unable to get through the tough skin.
Then the lion laid down, and the lioness,
driving her offspring before her, did the
same four or five yards off, upon which lie
got up, and, commencing to eat, had soon
finished hind leg, retiring a few yards on
one side as soon as he had done so. The
lioness came up next and tore the carcass
to shreds, boiling huge mouthfuls, but not
Directing to the whelps eating as much
as they could find. There was good deal
of snarling and qurrreling among these
young lions, and occasionally stand-up
fight for minute, but their mother did
not take any notice of them, except to give
them smart blow with her paw if they
got in her way. At last one of the whelps,
having probably eaten as much as it could
gorge, began to wander about, and in few
minutes came my way. Seeing it so near,
the idea of catching it came into my head,
and descending to the lower branch, I
waited till it came underneath and drop
ped down over it seizinghit with both
hands; but had counted without my host;
the little beast snarled and bit and tore at
my bare arms in such a fashion that was
glad to fling it away and scuttle up the
tree as fast as could out of the way of
the enraged mother, who was coming down
at full galop, her tail carried out straight
behind and looking the very personi6ca-
ton OF fury. She rushed right against the
tree in her blind fury, and then running
up, glared at mo and roared terribly. I
might easily enough have sent my spear
into her, bat as there was not the fainte st
chance of it's killing her, and it would an
sWer no useful purpose, I refrained and
watched her instead as she flew at her Off
spring, and drove it, yelling at her rough
treatment, towards the others. There was
now left of the zebra but few bones,
which hundreds of vultures were circllng
around wanting to pick, while almost an
equal number hoped awkwardly on the
ground within fifty or sixty yards Of it;
and the whole lion family walked quietly
away, the lioness leading, and the lion, Of
ten turning his head to see that they were
not followed, bringing up the rear.''