The weekly messenger., 1888-07-14
LION HUNTING.
Some Information Regarding a
Dangerous Occupation.
Capturing the King of Beasts
for Expectation.

hunt for them IN Africa. To a Sun re-
porter, Mr.. Lohse said:
'Lions are not so numerous in the
Egyptian Soulan and Abyssinia that it
would pay to send out parties to hunt
especially for them" said Nh. Lohse,
"but we were always prepared for them
on any of the expeditions. A lion
comes like the sirccco, when you are at
least expecting it."
"Did they ever kill any of your
menu
"Oh, yes. A big lion got to prowl-
ing around village near the seriffa and
carried off several children. The peo-
pie were terribly frightened, and when
the savage beast had taken seven of their
number, they offered reward to any
one who would slay it. One of my
hunters, Mahommct Achmid, heard of
this offer of reward and went to the
village, taking one of my large bore
rifles. He killed the lion within an
hour after his arrival.
Another time, while l was with
about forty of my men on q hippopota-
mus hunt, found myself all alone in q
jungle near the river. The hunters
were creeping toward the water to sur
prise the hippopotami, when suddenly
heard frightful shrek, aad the next
minute huge lioness bounded past me
and disappeared in the dense thicket.
1t was so sudden that l hadn't time to
get my rifle in proper order to shoot. /
found that the leader of my men had
been attacked by the lioness and had
had his les nearly torn off. The other
men had raised such cry that she was
frightened away. l made up my
mind to try and follow her
up, although 1 had not much
hope of catching her, when 1 heard
great snarling and roaring in the jun
gle. fastening to the place l saw the
lioness in terrible fight with a leopard.
The two beasts were literally tearing
each other to pieces Some of my men
and got quite close to them, but they
paid no attention to us and kept biting
and clawing at each other in blind fury.
The strength and size of the lioness.
however, was too much for the leopard.
He grew weaker and weaker until at
last the lloness fastened her glistening
white teeth in his throat and he rolled
over on his back dead. The tawny
queens victory was of short dur ion,
for l put bullet into her just back of
the shoulder. 1t didn't kill her, though,
and she dragged herself away into the
brush. ! fired after her just as she was
disappearing, and she turned and came
straight for me. l had good repeat
ing rifle and managed to send ball into
her brain. She fell dead within ten
feet OF me. She was OF enormous size,
but was half-starved. 1t was doubtless
her hunger that made her so desperate.
THE closest call l ever had ia the
way of lions was on my last trip to the
country. was nearing the River Salam
with my slave ALI than whom there
was no braver man in the whole HON.
rahn district. He was as black as
coal, and fully six and a half feet in
height. He had come from the Berber
di trict, and showed his rank in his
tribe BY three crescent shaped scars on
each cheek. These scars gave him a
very savage expression. Our attention
was attracted by terrific roar comiac
from across the river. 1t was the un-
mistakable challenge of a lion. We
crept softly forward, and when we ar
rived at the river saw something that
for q moment almost made my heart
stop beating. On the opposite bank of
the narrow stream were four lions. One.
magnificent male with an enormous
name, stood on rock which iuttcd
over the water. He held his head
proudly erect, and for the first time /
realized the fitness of the title "Kinc
of the Beasts" Behind him was his
mate. also grand looking animal
Two young cubs were playing like kit
tens near by. Our appearance on the
scene was greeted by a sullen growl
from the lioness and another roar from
his royal highness. My rifle was at my
shoulder instantly, but just as 1 was
about to fire a movement from Ali broke
NV aim and the hnllct ,nnrnlu ,ronnd al