The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-10

of Native Animals.
Previous to making up country trips
in South Africa always laid in a sup
ply Of calico dresses and pound pack.
ages Of tea to serve as presents for the
wives Of the Beers in the outlying dis.
tricts. Tea is used by them only in
cases Of sickness, and the donation of a
calico dress is always met by an inter.
change Of dairy and hen-roost products.
In one Of my trips, while in the neigh
borhood OF an old vrouw, finding that
the larder needed replenishing, I
jumped on my shooting pony and can.
tered over TO her house, followed by my
Kaffir henchman January" carrying q
basket containing the tea and dress.
The noise Of my pony's hoofs on the
sun.baked earth caught the old lady's
ears, and she met me ct the door with
the exclamation:
"I'm 50 glad you have comel"
"Why?
for you"
Knocking about the house some
where"
l Immediately dismounted, handed
the reins to January, started indoors,
and finally brought up in the kitchen,
where / found the whelps asleep on the
hearth. On asking how they were cap.
tured, she informed me that some two
weeks previous her son had shot lion.
ess, and finding her in milk, hunted
around until he picked up the young
sters. / Immediately bargained for
them, with the understanding that they
were to be given all the milk they would
drink, not leased, and kept until my re.
turn, some three months ahead. The
tea and dress were then produced, and
January had to enlist theseryices Of one
OF the farm KaffiTs to assist in carrying
to the wagonsthe butter and eggs which
were received in exchange.
On my return found they had been
partially weaned, which was fortunate,
as It would have been impossible to get
fresh milk for them daily. Taking them
In my arms started toward my cart,
which had been driven up in front Of
the house, for the purpose Of throwing
them on my bed; but the oven bolted
on catching scent of them, and itrequir-
ed q deal OF patience before they would
allow them to be loaded. On coming
up with my train Of wagons, loaded with
antelope, gnus, etc., the cart was pIud,
emily kept some distance in the rear, fol
fear OF stampede Of the teams, and Il
was fully a week before the oxen became
thoroughly accustomed TO lion odor.
The whelps would pass the time while
travelling lolling about on my bed,
which shared with them at night, hui
so soon ss we stopped and the oxen were
turned loose for grazing their heads
would be thrust out from the front Of
the cart waiting to be lifted out, so that
they could have their customary game
Of romps with the dogs and myself.
We had reached the more thiCkly set
tied portion Of the country when ont
day, Just as we were outspanning, {
couple OF young Beers cantered up tC
the wagons, one Of whom carried q fine
chacma seated behind him. On dis
mounting the reins were handed to thu
baboon, who had seated himself Just Ii
front OF the horses, and ! started for thu
cart in search Of the ''Equarge riggeE,'
|. e, gin flash, In order to pave the way
70 purchasing the baboon. On reaching
| it the heads Of both whelps appeared
expecting to be lifted ont, as was custo
mary. On catching sight OF them tn
haboop gave Q scream, the horses q snor
u terror, and each ono took . separate
path across the velll, followed by q pal
Of disappearing Beers. saved my gin
but lost the chance of buying a fin
chacma and sulkily refused TO Join il
the usual frolic.
The trip home was made withou
further incident, and on arriving tn
youngsters were allowed the run Of thu
house; but at night they would persia
in sharing my bed with me. After hay
ing been nearly smothered by q trio
which they had Of lying across my face
finally compromised matters By Al
ranging cot alongside my bed with
stout wire screen intervening. 0fcours
the arrival OF the young lions was 500
noised about, and did not lack CON
pany, especially on Sunday afternoons
when my establishment resembled
miniature geological garden, and th
female Whelp seemed 70 select Just sue
occasions 70 play pranks on the biped
Of her own sex. Her favoEite ambus
was under tho table Of the dlnin
room, the door Of which opened o
the passageway throm the housl
SO long as males passed, or female
escorted by males, abe would renal
quiet, but as sure % single female, {
party Of them, attempted to pa
through, she would spring out an
crouch Just In front Of them, inYariabl
causing a hasty TetToRrads moyemen
accompanied by Q series OF scream
Once while In the rear giving some 4
rections to the Kaffirs, was startled b
, apieIcing shrek, and turned Just In tin
y 70 see o frightened female dart out Of d
back door and come at racing spec
3 toward me. In 90 doing she had 70 pa
directly under q tree, in which vi