The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-04-12
A DISASTROUS LION HUNT.
DANG ER0Us SPORT ON THE Attn
RIVER.
Testing The Merits of Small Bore RI.
hein the Pursuit of Big Game.

In June last it happened to be the lot
of s. and myself to be camped for few
days by the Athi river, at point about
three hundred miles from the coast
(Mombasa) writes a correspondent OF
the London Field. Judging from tht
mighty roaring that went on every
night. and all night long, we had evil
IDENTIFY pitched on favorite haunt OF
the dreaded lion. 1t is one thing to hear
lion roaring in captivity, but quite
another matter when he is romptne
around ones fragile tent, which, with a
single blow, he could tear to ribbons.
have known lions to do this, and eat the
occupants into the bargain, but these
were exceptionally daring man-eaters,
whose history I may give on some flu
ture occasion s. and l had many
friendly arguments as to the courage Of
the lion, he holding the view that
stripes was the more formidable foe,
while I. although admitting the courage
of the tiger, maintained (from some.
lively experiehces) that the lion, when
once reused, was unequaled for pluck
and daring, in fact the most dauntie5s
enemy one could meet with. He may at
times stink off, and not show fight, but
get him In the mood, or wound him, and
1t is only his death or yours that will
end the fray, at least that is my, expe-
rience of the East African lion.
think S. holds my opinion now, and
his conversion came about In sad way,
which shall try to describe faithfully
/ had reliable news one day of the
whereabouts of couple of very fine
lions, and got S. to agree to come with
me to hunt them UP. may mention
that, as a rule, S. declined my company
on shooting trips, as he said I would get
scuppered some day If kept going af-
ter lions with a popgun, as he contemp-
tuously termed my .303 This was an
other bone of contention between us, he
being a firm believer (and rightly SOY in
a heavy weapon for big and dangerous
game, while tried to defend the 1903
which l always used However, we
compromised that day, I accepting his
spare itwelve-bore rifle as a second gun
In case of coming to close quarters.
Having seen to our guns and ammu-
milton, and that a t'peg" or two had heen
put into the tiffin basket we Sc. of in
SIS tonga early in the afternoon. We
had with us two syces and two gum
bearers one syce led a spare horse, and
the other rode in the tonga. Lion hunt
ing in tonga may sound strange, but
1t is a capital way Of getting about in
this part Of the country for it is here
that the vast Athi plain is situated,
stretching away to the horizon In all di-
rections 1t has bleak and desolato
appearance, for. save along the banks
of the river and few of it's small trib-
utaries, 1t is bare of tree or bush; it Is,
however. covered with grass, and
abounds with game Of all kinds from
the ponderous rhino to the graceful ga
zelle. 1t would be well for the hunter
to keep his bearings while traversing
this treacherous expanse; one is apt to
forget them in the excitement of follow
ing up q wounded animal, and once lost
in this uninhabited wilderness, death
speedily follows, either from wild
beasts, or worse STILL from hunger and