1824.] 
From her peculiar construction in the 
wedge-like form of her stern, and the small 
proportion her breadth bears to her length, 
she created but little swell: even the 
smallest boats were hardly tossed, and no 
sensible motion was experienced on board 
the steam-boats and larger vessels. Three 
of her four masts were standing, that is, the 
first and second main-masts, and her trysail- 
mast. The sheers were also put up for 
stepping the foremast, and her bowsprit 
was in. The whole of, these appear so 
small, when compared with the bulk of 
the hull, that they look like jury-spars: 
her mainsail is not larger than that of a 
small seventy-four. As soon as she lost 
way, she was taken in tow by the steam- 
boats, Swiftsure, Lady Sherbrooke, and Mal- 
sham, and conducted to the Montmorenci 
‘Channel, where she dropped her anchor, 
which did not appear to us larger than we 
have seen on board a first-rate ship of war : 
the weight is 78 ewt. 2 qrs. The day was 
remarkably fine, and the river presented an 
animated spectacle—no less than seven 
steam-boats, and an amazing number of 
rowing and sailing-boats being upon the 
water. 
AFRICA. 
The first number of the South African 
Journal, published at the Cape of Good 
Hope, contains some very interesting 
details respecting the lions of that coun- 
try. The writer says, that beyond the 
limits of the colony, they are accounted 
peculiarly fierce and dangerous, and he 
thinks Mr. Barrow’s representation, that 
they are cowardly and treacherous, is a 
conclusion drawn from limited expe- 
rience or inaccurate information. 
The prodigious strength of this animal 
(he observes) does not appear.to have been 
overrated. It is certain that he can drag 
the heaviest ox with ease a considerable 
way; and a horse, heifer, hartebeest, or 
lesser prey, he finds no difficulty in throw- 
ing oyer his shoulder and carrying off to 
any distance he may find convenient. I 
haye myself witnessed an instance of a very 
young lion conveying a horse about a mile 
from the spot where he had killed it: and a 
more extraordinary case has been mention- 
ed to me on good authority, where a lion, 
haying carried off a heifer of two years old, 
was followed on the track for five hours, 
above thirty English miles, by a party on 
horseback ; and throughout the whole dis- 
tance, the carease of the heifer was. only 
once or twice discovered to have touched 
the ground. The Bechuano Chief, old 
Peyshow (now in Cape Town), conversing 
with me afew days ago, said that the lion 
very seldom attacks man if unprovoked; 
but he will frequently approach within a 
few paces and survey him steadily; and 
sometimes he will attempt to get behind 
Literary and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
255 
him, as if he could not stand his look, but 
was yet desirous of springing upon him 
unawares. If a person in such circum- 
stances attempts either to fight or fly, he 
incurs the most imminent peril; but if he 
has sufficient: presence of mind coolly to 
confront him, without appearance of either 
terror or aggression, the animal will in al- 
most every instance, after a’ little space, 
retire. ‘The overmastering effect of the 
human eye upon the lion has been fre- 
quently mentioned, though much doubted 
by travellers; but, from my own inquiries 
among lion-hunters, I am perfectly satis- 
fied of the fact ;.and an anecdote related to 
me a few days ago by Major Macintosh, 
proves that this fascinating effect is not 
restricted to the lion. An officer in India, 
well known to my informant, having 
chanced to ramble into a jungle, suddenly 
encountered a royal tyger. ‘The rencontre 
appeared equally unexpected on both sides, 
and both parties made a dead halt, ear- 
nestly gazing on each other. The gentle- 
man had no fire-arms, and was aware that 
a sword would be no effective defence in a 
struggle for life with such an antagonist} 
But he had heard that even the Bengal 
tyger might be sometimes checked by look- 
ing him firmly in the face. He did so. 
In a few minutes, the tyger, which appear- 
ed prepared to make his final spring, grew 
disturbed—slunk aside—and attempted to 
creep round upon him behind. The offi- 
cer turned constantly upon the tyger, which 
still continued to shrink from his glance ; 
but darting into the thicket, and again 
issuing forth at a different quarter, it per- 
severed for above half an hour in this at- 
tempt to catch him by surprize ; till at last 
it fairly yielded the contest, and left the 
gentleman to pursue his pleasure walk. The 
direction he now took, as may be easily 
believed, was straight to the tents at double 
quick time. 
After relating several terrific stories 
of encounters with lions, the writer con- 
cludes his article with one, not quite so 
fearful, related by Lucas Van Vuuren, 
a Vee Boor, his neighbour at the Ba- 
vian’s river. 
Lucas was riding across the open plains 
about daybreak, and observing a lion at a 
distance, he endeavoured to avoid him by 
making a circuit. Lucas soon perceived 
that he was not disposed to let him pass 
without further parlance, and that he was 
rapidly approaching to the encounter, and 
being without his oer (rifle) and otherwise 
little inelined to any closer acquaintance, 
he turned off at right angles—laid the sam- 
bok freely to his horse’s flank, and gallop- 
ped for life. The horse was fagged, and 
bore a heavy man on his back; the lion 
was fresh, and furious with hunger, and 
came down upon him like a thunderbolt ! 
In a few seconds he overtook Lucas,’ and 
springing 
