The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11
LION HUNT IN ZAMBESI.
Unique Armament Of q Body Of Hunters
death Of . Man Eater.


Far awav on the confines Of the northern
moet Praza Of Portuguese Zambesia lies a
little village nesting among the trees at the
foot Of a huge rock. Like other native
villages in this part OF Africa it consists OF a
few round huts placed anyhow in a more or
less imperfectly cleared space in the forest
and is inhabited by a happy, careless popu-
lation.
One May morning 1t was the scene OF a
fearful tragedy, only too common in such
villages. Four men had been hoeing in the
mealie patch along the side OF a ~neighbonng
kloof, when suddenly. says q correspondent
of the London Field, a lioness sprang among
them, seized one man by the leg and en-
deavored to drag him away. Whatever
vices these natives may have, cowardice is
not one. Two attacked the lioness with
their hoes and were frightfully mauled in
the melee. A third took up his bow and sent
two arrows into her side.
1t was Of no avail. The lioness stuck to
her quarry, and carried him on, shriekins
with agony, which was mercifully ended by
his death, and the Mortified villagers carried
the survivors back to their homes and ap-
piled such remedies to their hurts as their
limited knowledge OF medicine dictated.
The hunting men went out 10 track the ami
NAL to her lair; the others rapidly erected
a stockade around the village, long expert
n G Of similar occu rrences having taught
them the futility Of delay in this matter; the
annette for human flesh, when once culti-
waited ia never appeased and the raids Of a
man eating lion can only be ended by its
death.
Il happened that next day Ave white
men found their way to the village. They
were new TO the country and not long
out from home, and all being keen sports
men they naturally jumped at the chance
of having some excitement and Riding
the country OF such a pest as well. On
their arrival they had a lengthy indaba
with the head man and were promised
the help OF the entire male population OF
the village as heaters il they would go
out and kill the lioness. The bow and
arrow champion Of the previous day agreed
TO act as guide, and daylight next morning
saw a lengthy procession following a fairly
evident blood spoor from the garden into
the bush.
l 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 a game
cock, was armed with a double barrelled
oordite AGO rife which kicked like a mule
and developed a muzzle energy which
would BOWL over an elephant. Around his,
middle was suspended a Webley revolver
loaded with hollow pointed bullets, and
from his belt hung a huge knife,
watches, compasses, notebooks, other
impedinenta recommended to sports
men, Behind him stalked a doughty
heather carrying a second rife, 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 n had also an attend
ant carrying a second riffe.
Next in order came X, wearing a white
helmet and armed with a Lee-Metford
rife and a revoly er, a fiery man, keen as
mustard Inc eager for the fray. Y fol-
lowed him, a man OF e~lephantine build
whose rubicund countenance Rlowed with
excitement. z, armed similarly to the
others, took I'D the rear. Behind followed
a mixed crowd carrying ~shotgune, spears
axes. knobkeries, cameras or 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 a. guide led them to Al open
space In the forest. Near It's centre was a
clump Of tall grass and n side and to
their rear was a pool OF water. Into the
grass the blood spoor led. -Aipo!" The rs
in there9 said the bow and arrow man.
A hurried consultation followed. IL was
decided to advance on the dump In column
and to deploy to the left in front Of II, while
the beaters from the other sic drove the
brute out into a semicircle Of rifles. The
man0euvre began. With all rifles at full
cock, A led the column toward the olump
OF grass, then turning to the left pro-
ceeded to take up his position. B followed.
CONSPICUOUS by his white headgear, X APP
preached too near the grass. There was
4 sudden rustic, q couple Of bounds, a
magnificent spring and a huge lioness
dashed at him.
He received her on the muzzle Of his
rife, holding It at the ready, az II TO .repel
a bayonet attack. Though il rsked her
from stem to stern the bullet missed her
heart. simultaneously As and BIS rifles
cracked, or rather doomed. The least
dad in midair az she made her spring
She fell on X, laying him out on the ground.
She uey or even twitched a muscle. but
X. troubles were by no means over. A
Tremendous Husillade from all rifles except
those carried by A and B was opened on
the corpse a II lay On top Of X. One
boy completely emptied his magazine be-
fore the firing was stopped. \ was ex-
treated, shaken but not hurt, and I'M