Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20
LION HUNT IN ZAMBEsI.
Unique Armament of Body Of Hunt
ers-Death Of q Man Eater.

From London Field
Far away on the confines of tho north
ernmost praza of Portuguese Zambesia
lies a little village nesting among the
trees at the foot Of huge rock. Like
other native villages in this part Of At
RIGA, it consists Of a few round huts
placed anyhow in more or less fmper-
fectly cleared space in the forest and Is
inhabited by happy. careless population.
One May morning it was the scene Of
fearful tragedy, only too common in such
villages Four men had been hOeing In
the mealie patch along the side OF a
nefghboring kloof, when suddenly a
lioness sprang among them, seized one
man by the leg and endeavored to drag
him away. Whatever vices these natives
may have, cowardice is not one. Two at
were frightfully mauled in the melee A
third took up his bow and sent two ar
rows into her side.
It was of no avail. The lioness stuck to
her quarry and carried him off. shrieking
with agony. which was mercifully ended
by his death, and the Mortified villagers
carried the survivors back to their homes
and applied such remedies to their hurts
as their limited knowledge of medicine
dictated The hunting men went out to
track the animal to her lair; the others
rapidly erected a stockade around the
village. long experience Of similar occur
rences having taught them the futility
Of delay In this matter; the appetite for
human flesh, when once cultivated. is
never appeased, and the raids of a man.
eating lion can only be ended by its
death. -
It happened that next day five white
men foun their way to the village. They
out from home, and all being keen sports
men. they naturally jumped at the chance
of having some excitement and Kidding
the country of such pest as we'll. On
their arrival they had a lengthy indaba
with the head man and were promised tho
help of the entire male population OF the
village as heaters II they would 60 out
and kill the lioness. The bow-and-arrow
act as guide, and daylight next morning
saw a lengthy procession following a
fairly evident blood spoor from the gar
den into the bush.
I must now describe the men and their
armament. as the latter is probably
unique in the annals of African lion
shooting: A, the leader, a short man.
brave as gamecock was armed with a
double ba,reled cordite $50 rifle which
kicked like mule and developed a muz-
zle energy which would bowl over an ele-
plant. Around his middle was suspended
a WebleJ revolver loaded with hollow,
pointed bullets. and from his belt hung a
huge knire. watches, compasses, notebooks
and other impedimenta recommended to
sportsmen Behind him stalked
doughty heather carrying a second rifle,
a Lee-Metford carbine. loaded, at full
cock. and with the cutoff open. B. a larger
edition of A, was. with the exception of
the knife, similarly armed and had also
an attendant carrying a second rifle.
Next in order came X, wearing a white
helmet and armed with a Lee Metford
rifle and revolver. a fiery man, keen an
lowed him. a man of elephantine build.
whose ruhicund countenance glowed with
excitement q. armed similarly to the
others. took up the rear. Behind followed
a mixe,t crowd carrying shotguns, spears,
axes. knobkeries, cameras on stands.
luncheon baskets and other impedimenta,
eagerly scanning the bush and ready to
drop their loads and clear at the first
sign of danger. The bow and arrow man,
in his capacity as guide, led them to an
open space in the forest Near it's center
was clump Of tall grass, and one side,
and to their rear. was pool Of water
pov' Che Is in THEREBY said a bow and ar
row man
A hurried consultation followed. It was
decided to advance on the clump in col
umn and to deploy to the left in front OF
1t. while the heaters from the other side
| drove the brute out into a semicircle of
| rifles. Tho maneuver began With all
rifles at full cock. A led the column to-
| ward the clump of grass. then, turning to
the left, proceeded to take up his posi-
ton. B followed. Conspicuous by his
| white headgear. x approached too near
the grass. There was a sudden rustic. a
couple Of bounds, a magnificent spring.
and huge lioness dashed at him.
He received her on the muzzle of his
rifle. holding 1t at the ready. as If to repel
| a bayonet attack. Though 1t raked ner
from stem to stern, the bullet missed her
heart. simultaneously AS and BIS rifles
cracked. or, rather. doomed. The beast
died in midair as she made her spring.
| She fell on x. laying him out on the
ground. She never even twitched q mus
| Gle. but KS troubles were by no means
over. A tremendous fusillade from all
rifles except those carried by A and B was
opened on the corpse as it lay on top Of
X. One boy completely emptied his maya
zine before the firing was stopped. x was
extricated, shaken, but not hurt, and un-
scathed by bullets.