XVI 



THE LION 



203 



A lion of this kind may, and occasionally does, terrorise 

 a large district. 



On the journey to Mombasa we had an excellent 

 opportunity of examining a lion at Aden. The 

 proprietor of the largest hotel on this sun-burnt rock 

 had a young Somali lion which he kept as a pet 



The end of a lion's tail showing the terminal prickle. 

 (Museum, Royal College of Surgeons, England. ) 



chained up like a dog on the verandah. The handsome 

 beast lived on mutton and milk ; in spite of such good 

 living it was docile and allowed the man who fed him 

 to do whatever he pleased even to the extent of 

 straightening out his tail in order that I might examine 

 the prickle which is usually found at its tip. When- 

 ever I see a lion alive or dead a strong yearning comes 



