PW054: The blacks fight and kill lions in this manner

I Negri combattano e amazano i Leoni1  in questa forma; si involtano al braccio sinistro molte spine tenendo nella destra un acuta zagaglia; e cosi armati van[n]o in cerca del leone; trovatolo; van[n]o arditamente a Investirlo; il Leone che si vergogna fuggire si leva in piedi p[er] combattere; ma pungendosi nelle spine t[u]tto la bocca; e non potendo stringere nel medemo tempo il Negro lo ferisce e finalmen^te lo amaza; Questo non é ben dipinto ne ha sapoto farlo bene&: 1: Negro che combatte 2: zagaglia 3: spine 4 cacciaporra2 ; questa sono le armi ordinarie de negri cio é un pezo di palo con una palla fatta del medemo palo con queste dan[n]o in testa e amazano e homini e fiere

[verso in Portuguese] Leam com negro

The Blacks fight and kill Lions in this manner; they wrap a lot of thorns around their left arm and hold in the right a sharp assegai; and thus armed they go look for a lion. Once they have found it, they boldly attack it; the lion who is too embarrassed to run away rises on its [hind] feet to fight; but piercing all of its mouth; and without being able to grab. at the same time the Black wounds it and finally kills it. This is not well depicted he3  has not been able to make it well etc. 1: Black men who fights 2: Assegai 3: thorns 4: cudgel; these are the ordinary weapons of the black that is to say a piece of stick with a ball made of the same stick with this they hit the head and kill men and beasts

[verso in Portuguese] Lion with black man

• 1
  Panthera leo.
• 2
  From the Portuguese, cachaporra: cudgel.
• 3
  This sentence refers in the third person to the artist making the image.