Portions of this railway from Mombasa to Uganda are still being made,
and here these lions fell on the workmen and destroyed them.

Such was their habit, day and night, and hundreds of men fell victims
to these savage creatures, whose very jaws were steeped in blood.

Bones, flesh, skin and blood, they devoured all, and left not a trace
behind them.

Because of the fear of these demons some seven or eight hundred of the
labourers deserted, and remained idle;

Some two or three hundred still remained, but they were haunted by this
terrible dread,

And because of fear for their lives, would sit in their huts, their
hearts full of foreboding and terror.

Every one of them kept a fire burning at night, and none dared to close
his eyes in sleep; yet would some of them be carried away to
destruction.

The lion's roar was such that the very earth would tremble at the
sound, and where was the man who did not feel afraid?

On all sides arose weeping and wailing, and the people would sit and
cry like cranes, complaining of the deeds of the lions.

I, Roshan, chief of my people, also complained and prayed to God, the
Prophet, and to our spiritual adviser.

And now will I relate the story of the Engineer in charge of the line.

He kept some ten or twenty goats, for the sake of their milk;

But one night a wild beast came, and destroyed them all, not one being
left.

And in the morning it was reported by the watchman, who also stated
that the man-eater was daily destroying the labourers and workmen, and
doing great injury;

And they took the Engineer with them and showed him the footprints of
the animal.

And after seeing what the animal had done, the Englishman spoke, and
said,

"For this damage the lion shall pay his life." And when night came he
took his gun and in very truth destroyed the beast.

Patterson Sahib is indeed a brave and valiant man, like unto those
Persian heroes of old--Rustem, Zal, Sohrab and Berzoor;

So brave is he, that the greatest warriors stood aghast at his action;

Tall in stature, young, most brave and of great strength is he.

From the other side of the line came the noise and cries of those who
complained that these savage beasts were eating and destroying men,

For such has been the habit of lions from time immemorial, and groups
of people have fallen victims to their fury.

Those who were proud or boastful, have but sacrificed their lives
uselessly;

But to-day Patter