The grass had been fired, and the animals instinctively knew
that they were pursued.
The boy went to drink at a stream close to some high reeds, when a
leopard pounced upon him without the slightest warning. A native who was
close to the spot rushed up to the rescue, and threw his spear with such
dexterity that he struck the leopard through the neck while it had the
boy in its mouth, killing it upon the spot. The boy was immediately
brought to me, but the lungs were lacerated, and he died during the
night.
On another occasion five men were wounded (two fatally) by a lioness,
which fought so gallantly that she at length escaped from her assailants
with two spears in her body.
I was not present on that occasion, but I have frequently admired the
pluck of the Shooli natives, who attack every animal with the simple
hunting-spear, which of course necessitates a close approach.
On 30th December I went out with a few natives on the Fabbo road, simply
to shoot in order to procure meat for the camp. We were about ten miles
from the station, and the game was so wild on the open prairies that we
found it impossible to approach within shot.
