Excerpta.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 759, 27 July 1894, Page 2

Excerpta.

A Lion’s Feast.

We had our camp at the big bend of the Zonea River, where it approaches nearest the great desert of the Hottentot country, and one rooming word was brought in that we had captured a very large lion in a pit which had been dug for the purpose. Among - the natives wbo went out in advance of us were two fellows who had been threatening each other with personal violence ever since we left the Vaal River. Both were tall, strong men, and each bad his following, as is always the case, even in civilised communities. They had been restrained onlv by threats of the colonel to turn them out of the camp. They met at the lion pit, and by accident, or otherwise, one jostled the other. It was the spark leading to an explosion. TomTom, as we had nicknamed one of them, seized the other, whose title was Joe-Joe, and with a twist and a wrench threw him into the pit upon the lion. It was a terrible thing to do, and neither the colonel nor I believed that Tom-Tom really bad meant to do it, though he would not have hesitated to use hatchet or knife. We met the natives coming back with the murderer in custody, and they demanded that his life should pay the forfeit. The pair of ns ran on to the pit, in hopes to save Joe-Joe, but we were too late. The lion was not only hungry, but in a terrible temper over his capture, and he had killed the man as soon as he could get to him. Had the victim lost his life in a fair fight, nothing would have been done. Had he been stabbed to death in camp, the murderer would have to give his widow or other relatives about 50 cents’ ; worth ut be a de. it ibo isicn. I would hear of bo punisiuue-, -fgyj. oi ■ bent 10 /“ the? forenoon, bar ag exhausted every effort, and the men beginning to threaten loudly. we turned loin Tom aver to them, lie had been very quiet all the morning, and when told that he must die he exhibited no emotion. He was in his prime, and bad a wife and three children, but be was too brave and proudspirited to break down. He had a choice of death—that is, they would strip him, and leave him bound hand and foot on an anthill, or he should be flung to the lion, who had by that time eaten the last morsel of poor Joe-Joe. He would rather have been shot or clubbed, but they thought that would be getting off too easy. After thinking it over for a while, he said to us—- • I have seen men left to the ants, and it was sometimes a whole day be- j fore they died. If I am thrown into I the pit the lion will kill me within a minute, and there will be no suffering. And, too, the man who is killed by a lion dies a proud death, and his wife and children need not be ashamed to say how he died. Yes, I will die that way. The lion will not be hungry again before tomorrow, but I wish the men to annoy him until he raves with anger. Then be will finish me at once, and you can get the cage and secure I him.’

Tom-Tom talked the matter over as calmly as if speaking of an ox gone astray. We saddled up and rode away. What followed was told to us on our return. A portion of the natives armed themselves with long poles and sticks and stones, and angered the lion until he was positively furious. Tom-Tom was then led forward. All agreed that he was the least excited of the crowd. Two strong fellows had been appointed to fling him into the pit, but when he was brought forward he said—- • I am to die for causing the death of a man who thirsted for inv life. 1 do not complain of that, but I wish to die like a man. Unbind me and stand back. I know what a lion can do. He can kill an ox with a blow of his paw, and he can crush the largest bone at one bite. He will kill me before you can count 20, but he would alter-

wards be ashamed that he had killed a man who was helpless. Jab him with your poles, and make him furious, that’s the way. Hear bis cries of rage. See how he leaps up in hopes to get out. You are now going to see how a brave man dies. Look sharply, for you will tell everbody that I threw Joe-Joe to the lion, but you will also say that J was killed by the sums beast. Now lam going. Good-bye,

He stepped to the edge of the pit, which was about 12 feet deep, and dived head first down upon the lion, who was standing on his hind feet. There was a fierce roar, muffled growls, a struggle lasting a tew seconds, anil the men looked down and knew that Tom-Tom was dead. The lion was so thoroughly aroused that it was not until the next day we could make a move to cage him, and it took us over half a day to bring him out of the pit, and make him a secure prisoner. After he was out of the pit, I looked into it, but there was very little to be found to tell of the double tragedy. Then I closely inspected the caged beast, but he had licked himself clean, and was hungry for aonther victim.

General Debility.

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Sydney Alurninff Herald, commenting on restriction of speech imposed under new Standing Orders iu IN. Z. House of R epresentatives, says anything that aims at restraining flow of unprofitable eloquence deserves sympathy, though restriction imposed on itself by the House seems little too heroic. Public feeling in Australasia ought to be enlisted 111 seeing experiment fully and honestly made.

There were many booksellers in Rome as early as the days of Julius Ctesar,