The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-29

ropeans nassng been 1tacked IN the day~
time by lions. I have known Of q certain
number Of natives having been killed IN
broad daylight Such incidents are, how.
ever, by no means everyday occurrences,
and, speaking generally, It may be said that
the risk Of molestation by lions in Africa
during daylight Is very small. 1t Is by
| night that lions roam abroad with stealthy
+, step in search Of prey: and at such times
they are often, when hungry, incredibly
bold and daring. I have known them upon
several occasions 10 enter a hunters camp.
and. regardless of fires. to seize oxen and
horses and human beings.
During the year following the first occu-
patton Of Mashonaland, In 1890. a great deal
of damage was done by lions. which could
not resist the attractions OF the settlers
live stock. For the first few months I kept
as accurate account as I could of the num-
Der of horses. donkeys. oxen. goats and pigs
which were killed by lions. and It soon
mounted up to over 200 head. During ths
same time several white men wero also
mauled by lions. and one unfortunate man
named Teale was dragged from beneath the
cart where ne was sleeping. by the side OF
a native driver. and at once killed and
eaten. Several OF the horses were killed
inside rough shelters serving as stables. :
In the following year Csa1) over 100 pigs
wero killed in one night by a single lion-
ess. These pigs were in a series of pens.
separated one from another, but all under
one low. matched roof. The lioness forced
her way in between two poles. and appar-
emily was unable. after having satisfied her
hunger. to find her way out again. and. be-
coming angry and frightened, wandered.
backward and forward through the pens
killing almost all the pigs. each one with ),
a bite at the back of the head or neck
This lloness. which had only eaten portionsN,,
Of two young pigs. made her escape before 4,
daylight. but was killed with q set gun
the next night by the owner Of the pigA (
When lions grow old they are always,
liable to become maneaters. Finding their
strength failing them and being no longer
able TO nunt and pull down large antelopes
or zebras. they are driven by hunger to kill.
ing Email animals. such as porcupines, and
even tortoises: or they may visit q native
village and catch a goat or kill a child or
woman going for water: and. finding .
human being a very easy animal to catch
and kill. an old lion which has once tasted
flesh will. in all probability. continue
to be a maneater until he is killed. s.
On this subject, in his Missionary
Doctor Livingstone says: IA
IS invariably an old lion, ana
when he overcomes his fear Of man so far
rs to come to the village for goats the peo-
pie remark. His teeth are worn; he will
soon Kill men, They at once acknowledge
the necessity of instant action. and turn out
to kill him." 1t Is the propptness with
which measures are taken by the greater
part Of the natives of Southern Africa to
tut an end to any lion which may AXE
o eating men that prevents these animals,
8 q rule, from becoming the formidable
tests which maneating tigers appear to be :.
4 parts Of India. Il.
But maneating lions In Africa are not
old animals. One which killed =
hirty-seven human beings in 1881. or tho Hf
iajit River. to the northwest of the Vic !
'rfa Falls OF the Zambesi was, when at D.
ist killed. found to be an animal In the .sa
rime Of life, while the celebrated man. n
aters OF the Tsavo River. in East Africa,
ere also apparently strong. healthy ami -;
lals. These two maneating lions caused
nch CONSERVATION among the Indian work.
en- on the Uganda River Railway, that
ie work of construction was considerably lsW
the helpless coolies refusing to re- 70
ain any longer in a country where they 4 4
ere liable to be eaten any night by. az
lion. Both these lions were at ~
st shot by one of the engineers on the .tnl
Mr. J. H. Patterson. but not be-its
re they had killed and devoured twenty -.
ght Indian coolies and an unknown NUM- -
r of native Africans. -