J 0*4 LETTER XXIX. 



commonly chuses his lurking place near a spring, or 

 on the brink of a river, where he may have an oppor- 

 tunity or surprising such animals as eome to quench 

 their thirst. 



However, although the lion and the tyger have a 

 similar method of watching and seizing their prey, 

 they differ considerably in some of their other cha- 

 racteristics. 



The natural disposition of the lion is universally al- 

 lowed to have more of magnanimity, and contempt 

 lor inferior enemies, than that of most other large and* 

 predatory animals. This has induced many persons 

 to relate wonderful, and, in some instances, altogether 

 incredible stories respecting this royal beast. " A 

 Jacobin monk of Versailles/' says the Pere Labat, 

 " being in slavery at Mequiaez, resolved, with a com- 

 panion, to attempt his escape. They got out of their 

 prison, and travelled during the night only, to a con- 

 siderable distance, resting in the woods by day, and 

 hiding themselves among the bushes. At the end of 

 the second night they came to a pond. This was the 

 first water they had seen since their escape, and of 

 course they approached it with great eagerness; but 

 when they* were at a little distance from the bank, 

 they observed a lion. After some consultation, they 

 agreed to go up to the animal, and submissively to 

 implore his pity; accordingly they kneeled before 

 the beast, and in a mournful tone related their mis- 

 fortunes and miseries. The lion, as they told the 

 fctory, seemed affected at the relation, and withdrew 

 to some distance from the water. This gave the bold- 

 est of the men an opportunity of going down to the 

 pond, and filling his vessels, while the other conti- 

 nued his lamentable oration. They afterwards both 

 passed on their way before the lion, which made n* 

 attempt whatever either to injure or molest them." 

 The story, as thus related by two superstitious old 

 monks, is too ridiculous to obtain any credit as to the 

 motives which induced the animal to such a mode of 

 conduct. It, however, may be considered to rest on 

 n better foundation, when it is observed that the lion 





