Attacked by lions

Media

Part of The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People

Title: Attacked by lions
Language: English
Year: 1941
Subject: Lions.; Animals – East Africa.
Rights
Abstract: True experiences related by a young traveller.; Third part of ‘Among the wild animals of East Africa.’
Fulltext: MARCH, 1941 THE YOUNG CITIZEN AMONG THE WILD ANIMALS OF EAST AFRICA True Experiences Related by a Young Trat:eler III. ATTACKED BY LIONS STORIES have been told many times of lions attacking natives of East Africa and their cattle herds, but stories of lions attacking an automobile are not so common. I am going to tell you such. a story. A iion is usually afraid of an auto which passes by him so quickly that he cannot follow it. A friend and I once made a trip from Nairobi in' Kenya, East Africa, to Tanganyika. While enroute, we staid a while at Moshi. Moshi is situated on the foothills of the highest A(rican mountain, Kilimanjar9. (See the map on page 96.) "Mystic mountain" is the correct translatiQn The road was not good. There were holes in the sand, and when our auto struck one of these, it made the car jump and bump and send up clouds of white dust into the air. We were soon covered with this dust, which came into the car from all sides. Fortunately the engine in our Ford worked perfectly. We were. glad of that, for had something gone wrong with our engine, it would have been impossible to secure help within one hundred miles. Ostriches were the only birds. we saw on that dry "desert." They were so shy that ' I\ they ran away as r fast as their long legs would carry t h e m whenever of the native African name Kilimanjaro. This mountain is more than 19 ,000 feet high, and ·the top is always covered with snow. The natives of East A fr i ca are not Tiu LiOn, King of the Jungle heard us. He was busy picking at some dry grass. His long, bare neck and head were stretched forward, ·and his · short, queer wings waved a little at his sides. 'When he suddenly became aw;ire that we were near him, he put his head into the sand. After we had passed him, we looked back, and he still had his head down and <;overed. That is the typical behavior of the ostrich when he feels himself in danger. · He has been caught many times in just that position. familiar with ice and snow; and · so they call the mountain Kilimanjaro (tv1ystic Mountain) . My friend and I had chosen the nearest way back to Nair obi over the "desert" to Longido at Tanganyika in- the Kenya border. That drive over the "desert" was one of the hottest I have ever experienced. The white dust-like sand lay for miles before us, and was interrupted only occasionally by a few thorn thickets. The wind was blowing and clouds of white dust were rolling before us. Longido is situated at the edge of the THE YOUNG CITIZEN· MAllCH, 1941 On this map of Kenya and Tanganyika in East Africa locate Nairobi, Moshi, and Kilimanjaro. • "desert" in a mountainous country which leads over into Kenya. Ravines, overgrown by bushes, extend from the Longido hills. This place is covered with: thorn thickets and high grass. It. is an ideal country for lions, leopards, antelopes, and elephants. In the Longido hills there was.bitter fighting between the B.ritish and ~he German soldiers during the first Wor Id War, but when we · were there, more than twenty years later, no rifle shots or machine guns were heard. The country belonged ag!).in to its ancient inhabitants, the wild animals of East Africa. A river camp, called Mananga river camp, had been built in this wild place by an old Danish man who liked this country in which he had lived for many years. We arrived at camp at about five o'clock in the afternoon and stopped there for the night. . Petersen, the old Dane, suggested that my friend and I should go with his native guide and take a look at the grounds where the elephants were grazing. Our guide, who had only a spear and a shield with him, -led us through a narrow jungle path. Twice he stopped and climbed a tree to locate the elephants. Finally he made a sign that we. should be very quiet, because some of the ·great elephants were just before us. We came to a clear space, and saw in front of us a herd of about twenty elephants. They were pulling great bunches of the ·broad green elephant grass vith their trunks and stuffing it into their mouths. This grazing was a picture of peace, and is seldom seen 1n the African jungles. The elephants have no enemies in the anim~l world; they fear only men who fight them with their firearms. We had a wonderful view of those grazing elephants, but could not stay long, as darkness was coming quickly and we had to be back at the river camp befor~ the wild animals would come out of the jungle and pass our way. It took us a long time to go to sleep that night, because the sounds of the jungle, which were distinctly heard at the · house, kept us awake. The coughing of the leopard, the growling and roaring of the lion, and the snarling of the hyena contln~ed throughout the whole night. Early the next morning we left Mananga river camp. We had bee,n told that the best time to see wild animals, especially lions, was in the morning hours. Later in the day trucks would ~ass thr_ ough this country, and they would drive the animals away by the blowing of their horns and the noise of their engines. We were now in the lion country, and might see some lions any time. More stories h.ave been written about 'the lion than about any other animal in the world. There is something fascinating about these great yellow cats, but they are not treacherous or looking for trouble as man·y people believe·. The MARCH, 1941 THE YOUNG CITIZEN .97 king of the jungle will keep away from trouble if he can, but if he feels himself endangered, bravery and dignity will awake in him, and he will fight openly. He does not allow anybody to hurt him or his family, and will attack when he cannot find an.other way out. The lion is not bloodthirsty like die leopard, although most people live uhd<!r the impression that a lion will kill for the sake of killing. People have been killed by lions, but usually because they had first challenged the great simba, as the 1 ion. is called · in the native African 1 an gu age of Kenya. If a man shoots at a lion and hurts him, the animal will use all his power to kill the man. had to go· through the water. Driving an auto in this country was difficult and tiring. We estimated that we had passed nearly thirty-~ve of these ·ravines. When we came to the edge of a deep ~me, we saw three giraffes drinking. I made a ·quick stop in order to watch them. It was a strange sight to see these ungainly giraffes drink. They had their long fore legs stretched wide apart; otherwise they would not have .been able to reach down to the water with their Man -eating lions are very seldom found, and· if some be- A Fight at Close Quarters 1 on g n eeks. These giraffes which we saw yvere in such a helpless position that it would have been easy for a lion to attack them just at that moment. When the animal is in. this position, he is frequently attacked . by a lion; therefore these 1 on gcome maneaters, they are despised by their lion families. The natives of the African interior frequently hunt lions on /<Jot armed wit/I only spears. Lions have attacked native women when the women were workir;ig alone in the .field or when they were on their way through the lonely country, but these lions are usually old animals which could not kill bucks or zebras because the latter could run faster than the old lions. The road over wh~ch my friend and I were driving was crossed many t_ime.s by small ravines through which rapid streams flowed. Np bridges had been built over these streams, · and our auto necked a_ nimals drink very seldom during the lion's hunting hours. We watched the three giraffes in front . of us for a short while. They had not noticed us. When I finally so.uncled my horn, they raised their heads from the water and looked at us by turning their long necks, but it took them at least half a minute to get ready to move. That would be a fatal haif mim~te in case of an attack ·by lions. We· watched them canter away. Then we continued on our (Please turn to page 114.) With your ruler and penknife cut the pasteboard ·so that it is the exact size of the glass. The binding tape will hold everything togetherwi th the picture between the glass and the pasteboard. THE YOUNG CITIZEN four pieces of the paper binding tape, each" a little longer than the sides of the glass. Cover one side of the paper binding tape with paste. If you buy passepm·tout binding tape it is already gummed· on one side. Then stick the bindNow take your little pie- ing tape on evenly around ture and put a small dab the edge of the glass and the of paste on each corner at pasteboard back, letting the bac~. Then lay it down half of the width show in on the pasteboard back; be front. careful that it is straight. Be careful to put bindThe next thing to do is ing tape on the top and botto make a mount-that is, tom first, and then cut off a little border which shows quite evenly the ·pieces in between a picture and its which are le.ft sticking out. frame. For this we cut a Then put the binding tape piece of _unruled white or on the two sides or ends. cream colored paper the Cut off the extra tape and same size as the glass. smooth it all down very We place this paper on carefully, pressing firmly the table and carefully rule, with the finger which must in faint pencil lines, a small be quite clean. border all around, about When the four sides of three quarters of an inch binding tape are on, place away from the edge. This the entire framed picture leaves a square in the mid- under a large book or other dle; we cut this out very weight and leave it there for carefullly with a penknife several hours. Next attach and a ruler, and then the to the back two rings by mount is ready to lay over which the picture is hung the picture whicli is stuck on the wall. to the cardboard back. If Through each ring put a we look at Figure No. I this piece of narrow binding will be quite clear. tape, each about two inches The mount is attached to long. We then paste the the picture by small dabs two ends firmly behind the of paste on the back of the picture as shown in Figure mount. Then lay the glass No. 2. The framed picture on the top of all. The frame is then complete, ready to is put on next. For this cut be hung on the wall. MARCH, 194i ATTACKED BY LIONS (Continued fro1i1 page 97) way, always on the watch for wild animals of East Africa, especially the great tawny king of the jungle, simba, the African ~ion. Presently we crossed another ravine and turned a sharp curve. There, on the road just.in front of us, lay, by actual count, fifteen great, full-grown lions. I stopped the auto about three hundred feet from the nearest animal. They did not move, and all seemed to be asleep .. What a sight! What a situation! Fifteen savage, full-grown African lions, loose and in our way! Nothfog but the sides of that little Ford sedan bet\veen us and q:rtain death! In the herd were several females, but most of them ~ere males with great yellow and brown manes. At first none of them took any particular notice of us. Presently one raised his head, watched us for a second, and then lay down again. This was a good chance to get a picture of tho~e great cats. IVIy friend turned in the auto to get the camera, while I watched the lions before us. They were beautiful-magnificent-as they lay there sleeping, as peaceful as cats MARCH, 1941 THE YOUNG CITIZEN at a fireside. terrific force. The roar of My friend 'began getting the great lion awakened all the camera ready for ta.king t~e others. With immense the picture, but it was im- leaps, they came right at our possible to 'tlo this through auto. We were attacked by the front window which fifteen lions all at once! was obscured by the morn- . The enormous brutes ing dew. I suggested that circled round our Ford, he lower the side window growling and roaring and and fake the picture from lashing their tails from side the outside. He did n.ot to side in excitement and wish to do this, because he anger. Can you imagine thought he could not get .a such a situation? It was good picture in that posi..: enough to congeal one's ti on. ·He d~cided to ge't out blood in his veins! of the auto. He. opened the Both my friend and I door of the car slowly and were terrified at the sudquietly; we thought that the deness of the attack; we sat lions were sleeping and stock still for a few seconds, would take no notice of us. not daring to· move. One The . door was open and of the great lions put his the window lowered. The huge paws up on one of the camera was ready for ac- doors and ciawed at the tion. My frie11d slid from metal. We quickly lowered his seat as quietly as pos- the windows of the car sible. Soon his whole body with trembling hands while was outside, and only the we watched the furious lower part of the door was animals outside. Their between him and the lions. teeth looked sharp and He looked into the view- wicked. How glad we were finder of the camera in or- that our car had steel sides der to get his picture. We and roof, and that the winhardly dared breathe, lest dows were so small that no we awaken the sleeping lion's head could pass beasts. through. Suddenly one of the Once one of the breasts largest male lions jumped tried to stand on his hind to his 'feet and leaped for legs on the side next to me my friend with a roar that and look through the winmade my ·blood freeze. My dow. But the space was so friend made one jump, and small that he had to · give was at my side, while the up the attempt and take a · lion landed outside the auto look at me from a distance. door and stn~ck at it with Then one of them tried to 115 leap up on the hood of the engine. I did not like that, so I sounded the horn. All the lions answered with terrific roars, but the animal at the front of the engine disappeared quickly .. Th e others w a 1 k e d around our car, lashing their tails and striking with their paws at the wheels and the tires. They opened their great mouths, and roared at us angrily. Several times one of them leaped at our car, but he always landed with abump outside the door on the· fenders. This hullabaloo went ori for about fifteen minutes, during which time we hardly knew what to do. Then I started the engine. The lions did not like the smell of the gasoline; they ran away from the exhaust of the engine to the front of the auto. I started to drive the car slowly. I pushed a·gainst one of the lions several times until he finally jumped to the side. But at once another took his place. This happened three times, · but finally I got ahead of' therri. I began to drive the auto faster arl'd faster. The lions followed us; roaring and jumping at the sides of the car. But gradually our good Ii t t 1 e Ford · outdistanced them. Several of the strong(Please turn to page 119:) l\JARCH, 19.p THE YOUNG CITIZEN 119 ATTACKED BY LIONS EAST AFRICAN CLUB A HIKING CLUB (Continued from page I I 5) (Continued from page I IO) (Continued from page I IO) er beasts followed us for a and read about each one in rivers; a very enjoyable mile or two. I drove as fast the encyclopedi·a. We found hike to places on Laguna as the poor road would other information also in de Bay, the great inland sea permit. several animal books in our of Luzon; and. finally an When there was only ·one library. . extended trip to N aga; Lelion following us, I asked Our club was interested gazpi, and the famous my friend if he would like in the battles between the Mayon volcano. to stop and get a photograph Italian and JJritish troops Although our club was a of that animal. He told me in northeastern Africa. So hiking club, we did not to keep right on driving- we found out about 'those walk to all of these places. that he was not interested places, too. Our teacher Sometimes we went by bus, in photography just at that says she is very glad about sometimes we found a moment. Sorry to say, he our interest in studying friendly· truck driver who had not succeeded in tak- Africa. She says it is all let us ride in his empty ing a single picture of our due to the animal stories truck, anij often we walked adventure. That is why I now being published in at least a part of the way to have no photographs of the THE YOUNG CITIZEN.· We our destination. Perhaps a attacking lions with which to liked the first t~o of those better name for our club illustrate this story, which, stories very much, and hope would be the Luzon Boys I assure you, is quite true. they will continue for a long Travel Club .. But to continue our story: time. They have aroused We saw a lot of interest! stepped on the gas, and great interest in our class at ing and historical places of d f · school and our East Afri- Luzon, and we had plenty we rove away as ast as ' · possible. Soon we left be- can Study Club has learned of healthful exercise. I hind us the last simba, the a great deal from them. would not take anything for the experience I had, nor great African lion, the king for the information I f th . I h 1 f h TURNING PLEASURE o e Jung e-t e ast o t e learned from actually seefift l · h · h ( Conti11ued· from page I 10) een savage 10ns w ic ing things. had attacked our little Ford dence. Our expenses were not sedan. Then we breathed If I secure a good photo- very great and we had a a sigh of relief. My friend graph, I take it back to the good deal of fun ·as we said, "Attacked by fifteen own7r of the house, show it travelled togeth~r. We ate lions-all at once! What to him, .and ask for ?rders anywhere-there were a Ian adventure! And I didn't for copies of the p~cture. ways eating places along the get one picture." Almost always I receive ?r-1 way-· and we slept wherders for a number of copies. ever we could find a suitFrom each of these orders able place when night over! make a neat profit. took us. A REVIEW 1. Have you read the Gradually I am building It was a ra"ther daring previous stories of adven- up a nice little business. I vacation venture and we ' tures among the wild am~ am · turning pleasure into. found it strenuous, too, but mals of East Africa? profit. . I think it did us good.