ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

buffalo, are also frequent victims. It is a common opinion among the South African tribes, that the lion will prefer a human prey, especially a Hottentot, to any other: be this as it may, the inhabitants of certain districts have had recourse to the following curious expedient to get out of their reach. At the base of a ridge of mountains is a place called "Ongorutcie Fountain," where there is a large tree containing seventeen conical huts. These are used as dormitories, being beyond the reach of the lions which abound in this country. The branches of these trees are supported by forked sticks or poles, and there are three tiers or platforms on which the huts are constructed. The lowest is nine feet from the ground, and holds ten huts; the second, about eight feet high, has three huts; and the upper story, if it may be so called, contains four. The ascent to these is made by notches cut in the supporting poles, and the huts are built with twigs, thatched with straw, and will contain two persons conveniently.

The travellers who saw this curious dwellingplace had previously visited several deserted

villages similarly built, but these were erected on stakes, about eight feet from the ground, and about forty feet square, larger in some places, and containing about seventy or eighty huts. The inhabitants sit under the shade of these platforms during the day, and retire to the elevated huts at night. In Steedman's Wanderings in Africa the reader will find a drawing of the inhabited tree at "Ongorutcie Fountain." "It is a constant observation in Numidia," says Bruce," that the lion avoids and flees from the face of men, till by some accident they have been brought to engage, and the beast has prevailed against him; then that feeling of superiority, imprinted by the Creator in the heart of all animals for man's preservation, seems to forsake him. The lion, having once tasted human blood, relinquishes the pursuit after the flock. He repairs to some highway or frequented path, and has been known in the kingdom of Tunis to interrupt the road to a market for several weeks; and in this he persists until hunters or soldiers are sent out to destroy him." The lion is a severe scourge to

the farmer, from its constant attacks on his domestic animals; he is consequently ever on the look-out for lions, and is a cool and generally an unerring marksman. Though mortal accidents frequently happen in these huntings, the wary sportsman seldom fails of using his rifle with success. Lions, when roused, walk off quietly at first, and if no cover is near, and they are not pursued, they gradually mend their pace to a trot, till they have reached a good distance, and then they bound away. Their behaviour upon these occasions has been described by an eye-witness" to be of a careless description, as if they did not want a fray, but, if pressed, were ready to fight it out.”

If they are pursued closely they turn and couch, generally with their faces to the adversary, then the nerves of the sportsman are tried. If he is a good marksman, the well-directed rifle ends the scene at once; but if, in the flutter of the moment, the vital parts are missed, or the ball passes by, leaving the lion unhurt, the enraged animal frequently charges on his enemies, dealing destruction around him. Mr. Burchell gives an interesting

account in his African travels of his confronting one of these animals:-"For a mile or two we travelled along the banks of the river, which in this part abounded in tall mat-rushes. The dogs seemed much to enjoy prowling about, and examining every bushy place, and at last met with some object among the rushes which caused them to set up a most vehement and determined barking. We explored the spot with caution, as we suspected, from the peculiar tone of their bark, that it was what we suspected it to be-lions. Having encouraged the dogs to drive them out-a task which they performed with great willingness-we had a full view of an enormous black-maned lion and lioness. The latter was seen but for a minute, as she made her escape up the river, under the concealment of the rushes; but the lion came steadily forward, and stood still to look at us. At this moment we felt our situation was not free from danger, as the animal seemed preparing to spring upon us, and we were standing on the bank, at the distance of only a few yards from him, most of us being on foot and unarmed, without any

visible possibility of escaping. I had given up my horse to the hunters, and was on foot myself; but there was no time for fear, and it was useless to attempt avoiding him. . . . I stood well upon my guard, holding my pistols in my hand, with my finger upon the trigger; and those who had muskets kept themselves prepared in the same manner. But at this instant the dogs flew boldly in between us and the lion, and, surrounding him, kept him at bay by their violent and resolute barking. The courage of those faithful animals was most admirable; they advanced up to the side of the huge beast, and stood making the greatest clamour in his face, without the least appearance of fear. The lion, conscious of his strength, remained unmoved at their noisy attempts, and kept his head turned towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving his eye thus engaged, had advanced close to his feet, and seemed as if they would actually take hold of him; but they paid dearly for their imprudence; for, without discomposing the majestic and steady attitude in which he stood fixed, he merely moved his paw, and at the next instant I

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »