284 frAf URAL HISTORY. 



in which they are produced, infinitely milder than those 

 of Africa ; and what clearly proves that the degree of 

 fierceness in this animal depends on the degree of 

 heat, is, that, even in the same country, those which 

 inhabit the high mountains, where the air is more tem- 

 perate, are different in disposition from those that 

 dwell in the plains, where the heat is excessive. 



As the lion has no enemy but man, and his species 

 is now probably reduced to the fiftieth part of what it 

 formerly was, it follows, that the human race, instead 

 of having suffered a considerable diminution since the 

 time of the Romans, is, on the contrary, more numer- 

 ous, and more generally diffused. This superiority in 

 the numbers, and the arts of the human species, while 

 it suffices to conquer the lion, serves also to enervate, 

 and to discourage him ; for he is brave only in pro- 

 portion to the success of his former encounters. Ac- 

 customed to measure his strength with every animal 

 he meets, the habit of conquering renders him intrepid 

 and terrible. Having never experienced the danger- 

 ous arts and combinations of man, these animals have 

 no apprehensions from his power : they meet him with 

 courage, and seem to brave the force of his arms : they 

 are not daunted even with the opposition of numbers. 

 A single lion of the desert often attacks an entire ca- 

 ravan ; and, after an obstinate combat, when he finds 

 himself overpowered, instead of flying, he continues to 

 combat, retreating, but still facing his enemy till he 

 dies. On the contrary, the lions which inhabit the 

 peopled countries of Morocco, or India, having ex- 

 perienced the superiority of man, have so far lost their 

 courage, as to be scared away with a shout; and sel- 

 dom attack any but the unresist'ng flocks or herds, which 

 women and children are sufficient to protect. 



