CHAPTER EIGHT.
A SHORT CHAT ABOUT LIONS.
Before going to supper the hunters dragged the carcasses of both lionand lioness close up to the camp-fire. A good pull it was, but theymanaged it by attaching strong "rheims" of raw hide around the necks ofthe creatures, and sliding them with the grain of the hair.
Their object in bringing them to the fire was, that they might havelight to skin them,--not that they deem the lion-hides of any greatvalue, except as trophies of their expedition--and they were not goingto leave such trophies on the plain. Had the lions been permitted toremain all night where they had been killed, the hyenas would have eatenthem up before morning,--skins and all. It is a fable which tells thatthe hyena will not eat the dead lion. The filthy brute will eatanything, even one of his own kind,--perhaps the most unpalatable morselhe could well find.
Of course the oryx were also brought up to the camp to be skinned andcut up. The bull, as large and heavy as a dead ass, gave them a goodpull for it. But it afforded Groot Willem an opportunity of exhibitinghis enormous strength; and the big boy, seizing the tow-rope, draggedthe oryx after him with as much ease as if it had been a kitten at theend of a string of twine.
Both the gemsboks were regularly "butchered" and cut into quarters, tobe carried to the next camp, and there dried. They would have dried themeat on the spot, but the water where they had halted was not good, andthey did not wish to remain there another day.
The horns of the oryx are also esteemed trophies of the chase, and thoseof both that were killed being perfect specimens--long, handsomelyringed, and black as ebony--were added to the collection which the youngyagers were forming, and stowed safely away in the wagons. The heads,with the skins left on, were carefully cleaned and preserved, at nodistant day to become ornaments in the _voor-huis_, or entrance-hall,either of the Von Bloom or Van Wyk mansions.
All these matters being arranged, the yagers sat down to supper aroundthe camp-fire. The roast ribs and steaks of the gemsbok venison proveddelicious, and the whole party, as already stated, were contented andmerry. Of course lions were the subject of conversation, and alllaughed again and again whenever they thought of Congo and hisencounter.
All of them, little Jan and Klaas excepted, had stories to tell ofadventures with lions, for these animals were still to be found in theGraaf Reinet, and both Groot Willem and Arend had been present at morethan one lion-hunt. Hans and Hendrik had met them in many an encounterduring the great elephant expedition, and Swartboy was an old Hottentotlion-hunter.
But Congo seemed to know more of the lion than even Swartboy, though thelatter would have gone wild had such a thing been hinted at by any oneof the party; and many a rival story of strange interest fell from thelips of both Kaffir and Bushman at that same camp-fire. Some of theparty had heard of a mode of lion-hunting practised by the Bechuanatribes, and, indeed, in Congo's own country. There was nothing verynovel about the mode. A number of people,--naked savages they were,--attacked the lion wherever they met him, either in the bush or on theopen plain, and there fought him to the death. These people carried forarms only the assegai, and, as a sort of defensive weapon, a mop ofblack ostrich-feathers fastened upon the end of a slender stick, andsomewhat resembling a large fly-brush. The object of this was todisconcert the lion when rushing upon the hunter. By sticking it in theground at the right moment, the lion mistakes the clump ofostrich-feathers for his real assailant, and, charging upon it, permitsthe hunter to escape. Such a _ruse_ is far inferior to the trick of thecarapace, but that singular mode of defence against the lion was onlypractised by such cunning hunters as Congo.
Now, as already stated, the plan practised by the Bechuana savages hadnothing very novel or strange in it. Any strangeness about it consistedin the fact of the imprudence of such a mode of attack; for it was saidthat the hunters did not stand off at a distance and cast theirassegais, on the contrary, they retained these weapons in their hands,and used them as spears, approaching the lion close enough to thrustthem into his body! The consequence was, that in every encounter withtheir terrible antagonist, several hunters were either killed or badlymangled. This was the thing that appeared strange to our young yagers.They could not understand why any hunters should attack the fierce lionthus boldly and recklessly, when they might avoid the encounteraltogether! They could not understand why even savages should be soregardless of life. Was it true that any people hunted the lion in thatway? They asked Congo if it was true. He replied that it was.
Now this required explanation,--and Congo was requested to give it,which he did as follows.
The hunters spoken of were not _volunteers. They did not attack thelion of their own will and pleasure, but at the command of the tyrantthat ruled them_. It was so in Congo's country, where the sanguinarymonster, Chaaka, had sway. The _whole people of Chaaka were hisslaves_, and he thought nothing of putting a thousand of them to deathin a single morning to gratify some petty spleen or dislike! He haddone so on more than one occasion, often adding torture. The tales ofhorrors practised by these African despots would be incredible were itnot for the full clear testimony establishing their truth; and, althoughit forms no excuse for slavery, the contemplation of such a state ofthings in Africa lessens our disgust for the system of American bondage.Even the atrocious slave-trade, with all the horrors of the "middlepassage," appears mild in comparison with the sufferings endured by thesubjects of such fearful tyrants as Chaaka, Dingaan, or Moselekatse!
Congo related to the young yagers that it was customary for Chaaka'speople to act as the herdsmen of his numerous flocks, and that when anyof his cattle were killed by a lion,--a frequent occurrence,--theunfortunate creatures who herded them were commanded to hunt the lion,and bring in his head, or _suffer death_ in case of failure; and thissentence was sure to be carried into effect.
This explained the apparently reckless conduct of the hunters.
Congo further stated that he had been compelled to take part in severalof these lion-hunts, in each of which the lives of men were sacrificed.He spoke of one in particular where no less than ten hunters had beenkilled before the lion was _captured_;--captured, not killed, for onthis occasion the despot had taken a whim into his head, and ordered thefierce animal to be _taken alive_! His command was, that if the lionwere not brought before him alive, and without a wound or scratch, everyman engaged in the hunt should suffer death! As the unfortunate hunterswell knew the threat was no idle one, they caught the lion in theirnaked arms, and succeeded in tying him, but not until ten of theirnumber had fallen victims to their involuntary zeal!
To these and other tales of lions did the young yagers listen as theysat around the blazing camp-fire.