186 



THRILLING ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 



and has secured his prey, he does not roar much that uight, only 

 uttering occasionally a few low moans ; that is, provided no intruders 

 approach him, otherwise the case would be very dilTerent. 



lyions are ever most active, daring and presuming in dark and 

 stormy nights, and consequently, on such occasions, the traveler 

 ought more particularly to be on his guard. I remarked a fact 







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mr:M^m. 



HIS MAJESTY, THE LION. 



connected with the lions' hour of drinking peculiar to themselves: 

 they seemed unwilling to visit the fountains with good moonlight. 

 Thus, when the moon rose early, the lions deferred their hour of 

 watering until late in the morning; and when the moon rose late, 

 they drank at a very early hour in the night. By this acute system 

 many a grisly lion saved his bacon, and is now luxuriating in the 

 forest of South Africa, which had otherwise fallen by the barrels 

 of my gun. 



Owing to the tawny color of the coat with which nature has 



