CHAPTER II. 



NATURE OF THE LION'S PREY SAID TO EAT HIS MATE DESTRUC- 

 TIVE TO CATTLE THE LION A " MAN-EATER " THE WHITE MAN 

 VERSUS THE BLACK NATIVES COMPELLED TO LIVE IN TREES 

 MANNER IN WHICH THE LION SEIZES HIS PREY THE LION'S 

 BOUND THE WOUNDS HE INFLICTS FOOT OF THE LION HIS 

 GLUTTONY FAMILIARITY OF INFERIOR ANIMALS WITH HIM 

 THE LION'S FLESH AGE TO WHICH HE ATTAINS ATTEMPTS 

 SUICIDE. 



lion preys on most of the animals inhabit- 

 J- ing the African wilds that chance to fall in 

 his way; but the antelope tribe would, seem to be 

 the chief objects of his pursuit. It happens, how- 

 ever, that the beast is beaten off by the powerful 

 gemsbok, or oryx, on whose long and sharp horns, 

 indeed, he is occasionally impaled, and in such wise 

 that, being unable to extricate himself, both in con- 

 sequence perish. Even the tall giraffe, as will here- 

 after be seen, is not unfrequently his victim. 



At times, likewise, the young of the elephant 

 becomes his prey. " He lies in ambush for it," 

 says Delegorgue, " and pulls it to the ground ; and 

 after strangling it, walks off without disputing his 

 prize with its dam, being certain of recovering it at 

 an after-period." 



Occasionally, moreover, he attacks and kills the 



