Before going to supper the hunters dragged the carcasses of both lion
and lioness close up to the camp-fire. A good pull it was, but they
managed it by attaching strong "rheims" of raw hide around the necks of
the creatures, and sliding them with the grain of the hair.
Their object in bringing them to the fire was, that they might have
light to skin them,--not that they deem the lion-hides of any great
value, except as trophies of their expedition--and they were not going
to leave such trophies on the plain. Had the lions been permitted to
remain all night where they had been killed, the hyenas would have eaten
them up before morning,--skins and all. It is a fable which tells that
the hyena will not eat the dead lion. The filthy brute will eat
anything, even one of his own kind,--perhaps the most unpalatable morsel
he could well find.
Of course the oryx were also brought up to the camp to be skinned and
cut up. The bull, as large and heavy as a dead ass, gave them a good
pull for it. But it afforded Groot Willem an opportunity of exhibiting
his enormous strength; and the big boy, seizing the tow-rope, dragged
the oryx after him with as much ease as if it had been a kitten at the
end of a string of twine.
Both the gemsboks were regularly "butchered" and cut into quarters, to
be carried to the next camp, and there dried. They would have dried the
meat on the spot, but the water where they had halted was not good, and
they did not wish to remain there another day.
The horns of the oryx are also esteemed trophies of the chase, and those
of both that were killed being perfect specimens--long, handsomely
ringed, and black as ebony--were added to the collection which the young
yagers were forming, and stowed safely away in the wagons. The heads,
with the skins left on, were carefully cleaned and preserved, at no
distant 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 around
the camp-fire. The roast ribs and steaks of the gemsbok venison proved
delicious, and the whole party, as already stated, were contented and
merry. Of course lions were the subject of conversation, and all
laughed again and again whenever they thought of Congo and his
encounter.
All of them, little Jan and Klaas excepted, had stories to tell of
adventures with lions, for these animals were still to be found in the
Graaf Reinet, and both Groot Willem and Arend had been present at more
than one lion-hunt. Hans and Hendrik had met them in many an encounter
during the great elephant expedition, and Swartboy was an old Hottentot
lion-hunter.
But Congo seemed to know more of the lion than even Swartboy, though the
latter would have gone wild had such a thing been hinted at by any one
of the party; and many a rival story of strange interest fell from the
lips of both Kaffir and Bushman at that same camp-fire. Some of the
party had heard of a mode of lion-hunting practised by the Bechuana
tribes, and, indeed, in Congo's own country. There was nothing very
novel about the mode. A number of people,--naked savages they were,--
attacked the lion wherever they met him, either in the bush or on the
open plain, and there fought him to the death. These people carried for
arms only the assegai, and, as a sort of defensive weapon, a mop of
black ostrich-feathers fastened upon the end of a slender stick, and
somewhat resembling a large fly-brush. The object of this was to
disconcert the lion when rushing upon the hunter. By sticking it in the
ground at the right moment, the lion mistakes the clump of
ostrich-feathers for his real assailant, and, charging upon it, permits
the hunter to escape. Such a _ruse_ is far inferior to the trick of the
carapace, but that singular mode of defence against the lion was only
practised by such cunning hunters as Congo.
Now, as already stated, the plan practised by the Bechuana savages had
nothing very novel or strange in it. Any strangeness about it consisted
in the fact of the imprudence of such a mode of attack; for it was said
that the hunters did not stand off at a distance and cast their
assegais, on the contrary, they retained these weapons in their hands,
and used them as spears, approaching the lion close enough to thrust
them into his body! The consequence was, that in every encounter with
their terrible antagonist, several hunters were either killed or badly
mangled. This was the thing that appeared strange to our young yagers.
They could not understand why any hunters should attack the fierce lion
thus boldly and recklessly, when they might avoid the encounter
altogether! They could not understand why even savages should be so
regardless of life. Was it true that any people hunted the lion in that
way? 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 the
lion of their own will and pleasure, but at the command of the tyrant
that ruled them_. It was so in Congo's country, where the sanguinary
monster, Chaaka, had sway. The _whole people of Chaaka were his
slaves_, and he thought nothing of putting a thousand of them to death
in a single morning to gratify some petty spleen or dislike! He had
done so on more than one occasion, often adding torture. The tales of
horrors practised by these African despots would be incredible were it
not for the full clear testimony establishing their truth; and, although
it forms no excuse for slavery, the contemplation of such a state of
things in Africa lessens our disgust for the system of American bondage.
Even the atrocious slave-trade, with all the horrors of the "middle
passage," appears mild in comparison with the sufferings endured by the
subjects of such fearful tyrants as Chaaka, Dingaan, or Moselekatse!
Congo related to the young yagers that it was customary for Chaaka's
people to act as the herdsmen of his numerous flocks, and that when any
of his cattle were killed by a lion,--a frequent occurrence,--the
unfortunate creatures who herded them were commanded to hunt the lion,
and bring in his head, or _suffer death_ in case of failure; and this
sentence 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 several
of 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 been
killed before the lion was _captured_;--captured, not killed, for on
this occasion the despot had taken a whim into his head, and ordered the
fierce animal to be _taken alive_! His command was, that if the lion
were not brought before him alive, and without a wound or scratch, every
man engaged in the hunt should suffer death! As the unfortunate hunters
well knew the threat was no idle one, they caught the lion in their
naked arms, and succeeded in tying him, but not until ten of their
number had fallen victims to their involuntary zeal!
To these and other tales of lions did the young yagers listen as they
sat around the blazing camp-fire.