the hind-quarters of an eland even, but try to tear him down with their
claws. Messrs. Oswell and Vardon once saw three lions endeavoring to
drag down a buffalo, and they were unable to do so for a time, though he
was then mortally wounded by a two-ounce ball.*

* This singular encounter, in the words of an eye-witness,
happened as follows:

"My South African Journal is now before me, and I have got
hold of the account of the lion and buffalo affair; here it
is: '15th September, 1846. Oswell and I were riding this
afternoon along the banks of the Limpopo, when a waterbuck
started in front of us. I dismounted, and was following it
through the jungle, when three buffaloes got up, and, after
going a little distance, stood still, and the nearest bull
turned round and looked at me. A ball from the two-ouncer
crashed into his shoulder, and they all three made off.
Oswell and I followed as soon as I had reloaded, and when we
were in sight of the buffalo, and gaining on him at every
stride, three lions leaped on the unfortunate brute; he
bellowed most lustily as he kept up a kind of running fight,
but he was, of course, soon overpowered and pulled down. We
had a fine view of the struggle, and saw the lions on their
hind legs tearing away with teeth and claws in most ferocious
style. We crept up within thirty yards, and, kneeling down,
blazed away at the lions. My rifle was a single barrel, and I
had no spare gun. One lion fell dead almost ON the buffalo; he
had merely time to turn toward us, seize a bush with his
teeth, and drop dead with the stick in his jaws. The second
made off immediately; and the third raised his head, coolly
looked round for a moment, then went on tearing and biting at
the carcass as hard as ever. We retired a short distance to
load, then again advanced and fired. The lion made off, but a
ball that he received OUGHT to have stopped him, as it went
clean through his shoulder-blade. He was followed up and
killed, after having charged several times. Both lions were
males. It is not often that one BAGS a brace of lions and a
bull buffalo in about ten minutes. It was an exciting
adventure, and I shall never forget it.'

"Such, my dear Livingstone, is the plain unvarnished account.
The buffalo had, of course, gone close to where the lions were
lying down for the day; and they, seeing him lame a