HISTORY OF THE LION. 11 



plain, near the Little Fish River, one morning about day- 

 break ; and observing a lion at a distance, he endeavored 

 to avoid him by making a wide circuit. There were 

 thousands of spring brooks scattered over the extensive 

 flats ; but the lion, from the open nature of the country, had 

 been unsuccessful in hunting. Lucas soon perceived that 

 he was not disposed to let him pass without further par- 

 lance, and that he was rapidly approaching for an encoun- 

 ter : he being without his rifle, and but little inclined for 

 any closer acquaintance, immediately turned off at right 

 angle, laid his whip freely to his horse's flanks, and galloped 

 for life. But it proved too late : the horse was tired, and 

 bore a heavy man upon his back : the lion was fresh and 

 furious with hunger, and came down upon him like a 

 thunderbolt. In a few moments he overtook, and springing 

 up behind Lucas, brought horse and man in an instant to 

 the ground. Luckily the poor boor was unhurt; and 

 the lion was too eagar in worrying the horse, to pay any 

 immediate attention to the rider; hardly knowing how 

 he escaped, he contrived to reach the nearest house in 

 safety." 



Hunting the lion in Africa, is generally pursued for the 

 sake of destroying the animal only, without any view of 

 sport. A regular hunt, when the people turn out, is a 

 complete scramble ; a mixture of men of various figures 

 and complexions ; the dogs innumerable, and of every kind. 

 Thompson relates a hunt which he himself witnessed, and 

 which will give some idea of the danger attending these 

 exploits. 



" I was residing on my farm, located on Bavion's River, 

 in the neighborhood of which numerous herds of large 

 game, and consequently beasts of prey, are abundant. 

 One night, a lion who had previously purloined a few 

 sheep out of the yard came down and killed my riding 

 horse, about a hundred yards from the door of my cabin. 



