47 



Satisfied of his once existing, this question 

 becomes a profitable enquiry. 



All noxious quadrupeds hasten to banish- 

 ment, apparent extinction, or rapid decline. 



The Romans brought many more lions 



out of Libya, for their public shews, than are 

 now to be found in that country. It is like- 

 wise remarked, that the lions in Turkey, Persia, 

 and the Indies, are now much less numerous 

 than formerly. As this formidable and cou- 

 rageous animal makes a prey of most other 

 animals, and is himself a prey to none, this 

 diminution in the number of the species can 

 be owing to nothing but the increase in the 

 number of mankind: for it must be acknow- 

 ledged, that the strength of the lion is not a 

 match for the dexterity and address of a Negro 

 or a Hottentot, who will often dare to attack 

 him face to face, and this too with very slight 

 weapons. The ingenuity of mankind aug- 

 ments with their number ; that of other ani- 

 mals continues always the same. All the nox- 

 ious animals, therefore, are reduced to a small 

 number, owing as well to the increase of man- 

 kind, as to the increase of ingenuity, which 

 has invented weapons that nothing can resist. 



