530 OFF FOR THE SOTIK DISTRICT. 



feline odor should give no alarm, and when he has arrived within 

 the limits of his spring, leaps on the devoted animal and strikes it 

 to the ground. 



This mode of action gives a clew to the object of the fear- 

 instilling roar which has made the lion so famous. 



As the lion obtains his prey by stealth, and depends for nutrition 

 on the success of his hunting, it seems strange that his voice should 

 be of such a nature as to inspire with terror the heart of every 

 animal v,'hich hears its reverberating thunders. Yet it will be seen, 

 that the creature could find no aid so useful as that of his voice. 



HIS ROAR FRIGHTENS ANIMALS. 



If the lion has been prowling about during the evening hours, 

 and has found no prey, he places his mouth close to the earth, and 

 utters a terrific roar, which rolls along the ground on all sides, and 

 frightens every animal which may chance to be crouching near. 

 Not knowing from what direction the fearful sound has come, they 

 leave their lairs, and rush frantically about, distracted with terror 

 and bewildered with the sudden arousing from sleep. In their heed- 

 less career, one or two will probably pass within a convenient dis- 

 tance of the lurking foe. 



These nocturnal alarms cause great trouble to those w4io travel 

 into the interior of Africa. When night drav/s on, it is the custom 

 to call a halt, and to release the draught oxen from their harness. 

 A kind of camp is ihen made, a blazing fire is kept alight as a defense 

 against the wild beasts, and the oxen are fastened cither to the 

 wagons or to the bushes by which the encampment is made. 



The lion comes and surveys the mingled mass of oxen, men, 

 and wagons, but fears to approach too closely, for he dreads the 

 blaze of a fire. In vain does he prowl around the encampment, for he 

 can discover no stragglers from the protecting flame, and, more- 

 over, finds that the watchful dogs are on the alert. So he retires to 

 some little distance, and putting his mouth to the ground, pours 

 forth his deepest roar. Struck w^ith frantic terror, the stupid oxen 

 break away from their halters, and quitting their sole protection, 



