The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-11-18
BesieGed by Lions.

Besieged by Lions.
From Mount Darwin, in Rhodesia,
South Africa, comes this complaint by
a settler under date Of July L: II did
not think it anything very extraordi-
nary when 1 was camped on the Riua,
near the Portuguese boundary, with
100 boys. that lion should come out
one night and carry off one of them
and that three other lions should make
several attempts to get into the camp.
There, of course, was no civilization,
but here in Darwin, with our white
population and buildings, it is aston
ishing how daring the lions are. On
the 26th of last month lion came into
the camp and took one of four boys.
The others gave the alarm, and though
the black watch fired several shots the
lion did not drop the body. Two nights
|afterward they came again, but con-
tented themselves by carrying bag
Of mealies about twenty-five yards and
pulling over some others. The same
night they took pointer dog from
Darwin's store. At Warberton's store
one lion put his paw through the win
dow and tore down the mosquito net
ting over the bed.
ION the night Of 23d ult. five of the
police watched at Warberton's store
and had a goat tied to heavy ladder
for bait. Shots were fired at a lioness
that came in sight. She, however.
turned and ran a short distance, then,
facing round, saw the goat and with a
lighting bound landed on it. Two
shots were then fired at her, but with
out effect, it being too dark to take
aim. The lioness seized the goat and
dragged it about 200 yards. She re-
turned about two hours afterward and
must have seen Trooper Wilson's eyes
watching her, for she came madly at
the hut where he was. He, however,
got in lucky shot, for she fell, giving
terrific roars. She then cleared, roar
ing all the time and tearing up the
ground in her fury as she went.
Lions also raided Mr.. Bourke's
wagon and donkeys, tearing down the
buck sail, but doing no further dam
age. The lion trouble is becoming a
very serious one here, but we hope to
be more successful in killing them with
the trap guns which we are setting"
Butterflies for Geld.
Butterfly collectors are seldom able
to estimate with any confidence the
value Of their collections, since the
prices for specimens SO constantly
vary. A case in point is that of the
blue butterfly Of Brazil, specimens Of
which were originally sold for from
$50 to $75. Not long ago some collec-
tors who supplied the London market
ran into a perfect swarm of these
butterflies and shipped to England
such quantities that better specimens
than the original insects are sold for
81 each. It not infreQuently happens
that two or three specimens Of GER
tain family are discovered by col
lectors, who, encouraged by the high
prices received for their finds. are
tempted to prosecute their search for
this particular variety without results
for several years. Suddenly they or
some other collector finds the insects
grown plentiful, and the cherished va
rieties OF the cabinet become among
the commonest specimens.
The Dream Fairy.
Al lay quiet In my bed
Do / Just think while I'm asleep!
Or does fairy creep,
So soft and still. mp to my ear,
And whisper dreams for me to heart
I dream the very incest things!
/ dream my tricycle. has wings:
I dream my doll en- laugh and talk:
1 dream my woolly lamb can walk.
Hew DO the dreams get h my head1
y D1ngrnced Maaoot.
The mascot Of i British 1nfantry
regiment monkey. has been Gishoor