The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
coon STORIES OF THE PRESENT DAT.
some Queer and STARTLING accidents OF Iion
Hunting.

animals which sent me of down the Red Sea
at days notice 1t was to drop the hunt fol
certain curioslties was after In that direction
and run down the African coast and I'LL an or
der for lions. 1t seems rather queer that the
manager OF geological garden or the proprie-
tor OF a museum should sit down and write;
Dear Sir: Please ship me three full-grown
lions, males or females. at yonr earliest con-
venienco African lions preferred. enclose
you draft on OF London for El00. Draw
sight draft for the balance when you ship "
And 1t seems still more queer that the re-
clpient Of the above should write to one OF his
agents thousands OF miles away: Il have or
ders now for twelve African lions. Please fill
as soon as possible"
As soon rs | could get my traps together
took the steamer for Berbera. on the south
coast Of the Gulf, and upon my arrival there at
once set about organizing an expedition into
the lion country to the south. That thumb OF
the African coast running out to the Gulf and
ending at Cape Guardaful is called Sumali
Land, and is down on the maps as an unex-
plored region Its area ia as large "a the state
OF New York. and the surface consists OF noun
tains. valleys, sandy plains, scrub forests and
extensive thickets. 1t Is watered by three or
four large rivers and scores OF creeks, and Ia
still tho paradise OF the hunter who seeks noble
game. My outfit consisted Of sixteen natives
who were classed as hunters, and eight others
who were TO do any camp work required OF
them. l had two saddle horses, and our camp
eauipRge was packed upon the backs OF oxen
and COWS. All the work along the coast up TO
Suakin Is lone by these animals the cows being
compelled to drag the plough or carry burdens
the same as the OK. and they are used under
the saddle in place OF horses. The hunt
ers engaged with me for seven cents
per day. and the others for four. Tho
animals were hired from their owners ut
the rate OF three cents per day, with contract
to pay Sc for any OK and 81 Tor any COW which
was NOT returned. The horses purchased ut
$50 per head. / rented twenty muskots ut 81
apiece Tor the trip and purchased the am
munition outright. In case any native was
killed while in the line OF duty was to pay his
relatives any wages due him and bonus of
IS. We took with US flour. meat. tea, coffee.
medicines. cooking utensils, spare clothing,
ammunition. cloth. beads, wire, looking
glasses. and a lot OF other stuff, enough to
make up a pack for each man and beast and
one morning headed away to the south, along
the right bank Of the Gapoli River. We had to
90 less than ten miles to leave every trace OF
civilization behind u.s. and on the forenoon OF
the second day We saw lion run across our
path. At the end OF the third day. being then
plenty that We made Il permanent camp. 1t
was in q grove on The bank Of the stream. and
TO me west OF US wasa SANDY pam, with here
sandy, broken country, with rocky lodges crop
ping out at intervals.
1t woul d have been waste OF words to ask
II We had reached the lion country. Hyenas
were to be seen on every hand. a sure sign that
the king OF beasts was not far oil, and while we
we're eating supper lions were heard roaring in
three different directions. There wasn't an
hour from dark to daylight in which their
twice they made such determ nod effort to
get hold of our cattle that Wa had to turn out
ad e bs S9ey to scare ov them aT "a s t
couple OF cages. These were made OF stout
canes. growing aiong the banks OF the river,
anu after the manner VI crockery crate. We
also had our goods to unpack. and it was two
days before we got around 10 the business in
hand. Then roIe along the river for about
two miles and found a tording place 1t was In
wore several large, rocks in the bed of the
could pass over dry sbod. To the east was
plain and scrub. with 1.-THE skeletons OF many
lying about to prove that tho lions had good
picking. also saw two or three skeletons with
bones so large that | knew they must have
been builaloes or wild cattle.
When lions drink from a pool or has In they
will approach it lrom any side where they can
ming stream they generally select some par
ticular spot; that Is II remaining for any
length OF time In the neighborhood. Every
stands or walks and lion will not stand on
the scent Of an antelope and drink from run;
found the spot where the lions approached the
stream. and | could not find the track OF any
other beast anywhere noar it. 1t was at II
spot whore they had clear view up and down
and across. and there were tufts of hair blow
ing about to show that they had enjoyed IL roll
on the north bank OF the stream. seeing that
my horse could ford 1t anywhere without
swimming | had not gone above sixty, rods
hat nFH n rt.l NEyl.a
passed a bunch OF scrub. and q lion Rprang out,
with an ugly Growl. lie stood RlarinG. at mo
than ten feet, and saw that he was pretty old
and badly used up, His cheek and under lip
were torn and bloody. and he could hardly, put
his left fore foot to tho ground, He had no
doubt been engaged in low with some other
lion during the previous night. and had got
pected that / could no nothing bit stare at
him for the first minute. He was more ratified
than |. however. for at the first move made
whine. and WAS of at his best ace disappear
Ing over rocky ridge about forty rods to the
pursued my way to camp without further halt
or adventure.
There were two ways which promised us sue
cess in capturing lions. and we arranged tor
both of them. | had three large bear traps
made on purpose to hold this sort Of game, and
Place, each one being hidden under tie sol
and fastened to stake driven firmly into the
ground. To the east OF the spot where we cor
ieet deep. The soil was stiIllsh there and
would not cave into the excavation. These
pits were on line with each other. and about
twenty rods apart. They were four feet wide
and eight feet long, looking more like graves
than anything else Enqh one was covered
over with light canes and grass, and then n
light covering Of sand hid all traces OF our
work. felt sure We should have a captive or
two be ore daylight came again, but storm OF
thunder and lightning and rain ragged from
eundoWn 10 long alter midnight. and the
l!yenas seemed to be the on an mails astir.
W hen rode over to the trans could not find
The track oil \ single lion about.
, The next n ght WAS fair and starlight. and
the sun had scarcely gone down when we
heard the roar Of u lion. About an hour after
lark q commo,ion among our cattle proved
that the felines were skulking about and /
took my rite and went among the herters and
cautioned them not 10 fire q musket unless ab-
Solutey necessary to prevent al attack. From
he northern edge OF the corral l could seq
three lions moving about over the plain-a
male; fema O. aud half-grown cub. They
acted as you have seen u cat when approach
ing Il bird on the ground. but after a bit the
male got scent OF me, and stood still and hogan
10 roar. AS nearly as could make out, he was
close 10 one OF the pits. and ! fred over his
head to scare him. The bullet cut very close
10 him. and lie sprang sideways. with a fierce
Zrowl Next moment we heard muillcd roar
nv. and the natives cried out that the lion had
ta!len into the pit | felt sure that this was the