Glasgow Courier. — 1855-10-09 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

LION HUNT.  Extract of a letter dated near Bloemfontein, Orange River Sovereignty:—' We left Bloemfontein on Monday for the purpose of enjoying a week's sport on one of the farms of that truly hospitable gentleman, Mr. A. B. B—, distant from this about RI miles. Our party consisted of six, principally officers in her Majesty's service, and a merrier one has seldom left Bloemfontein. We reached our little camp at sunset, looking forward with eager anticipation to the morrow, and with reason, for how rarely falls it to the lot of any one to see, much less to shoot, the noble animal we were is quest of I The next morning was beautifnl, but cold, the pools being frozen. After breakfast our horses were saddled, guns looked to, and "the pack" being called together,we started, beating the stony hills and grassy plains that stretch away for many miles round that jolliest of outposts, Bloemfontein. Many a mile we traversed without seeing the noble genie we sought, and we had almost despaired of finding them that day, when from the long grass up rose three wild boars, and immediately after five lions and lionesses, truly a splendid, and to the sportsman a thrilling, sight. They trotted majestically away, but, on being hotly pursued, faced about. One of them, with her tail whirling on high, made a few springs towards us, but, as we showed an imposing front, she I stopped, and the dogs brought her to bay. Several shot were fired without effect, and she made alternate charges at the place where the bullets struck and at the dogs, who got out of the way fast enough. All this time she kept making a low murderous growl, and as liar wrath increased so did the impatient switching of her tail. At last a lucky shot hit the shoulder, and she charged viciously. nearly catching one of the dogs, which howled in anticipation of his fate. Several well-directed shots now struck her, and after a few more short charges and some desperate attempts to catch one of the 'pack,' she:rolled over dead. The progress of skinning was soon completed, and we then went in pursuit of the other four, who had managed to conceal themselves in the long grass, and we were thus unable to find them. We returned to cern') at sunset, ' passing large herds of quagga and blesbuck, with which the plains abound, their number baffling any attempt at computation. Daring the night the "tyrants of the wilds" serenaded us, and from the sounds we judged there were a goodly number of them. However, although we hunted most indefatigably for three days, we were unable to find them. Atiother day dawned, and again we scoured the plains, passing a few dogs, wolves, ostriches, and a number of jackals. On descending a little hill, the hawked-eyed Tuttle saw three specks in the distance, which he unhesitatingly declared to be lions. Although we could scarcely discern the objects he pointed out, away we went in pursuit, and after • hard gallop got up to them; they immediately came to bay at some distance from each other, and were attacked with right good will; one if them made a meg determined effort to catch one of the party, and, his home being blown, would most probably have succeeded, had not it, attention been diverted by the  opportune arrival of another gentleman, being only a few yards behind when it gave up the chase. While this little scene was enacting one lucky shot killed the second, and then we went after the third, which was slowly making for an adjacent bill; hearing us in pursuit, it turned round and at once charged about 150 yards; as we all stood it thought better of it, and went at the dogs, who, however, eluded its grasp with surprising quickness. The first shot broke his leg, and added to his fury, but it was now incapable of doing much harm, so we went up within a few yards; snothrr, shot went right through the heart, and, incredible as it may appear, it charged, and nearly caught one of the dogs; this effort was en expiring one, and, rolling over, vainly endeavouring to catch sonic of its tormentors, the noble creature, who never for one moment showed its back to us, was gathered to its fathers. A short time sufficed to strip them of their skins, and ere the day closed the vultures had left but a few bones to tell where so lately had stood in all their pride the very noblest of beasts, the " grim monarch" of the plain.'  MARKETS, SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE, A c