122 THE STORY OF THE LION. 



this nature when a North African lion was reported to have leaped over the 

 thorn fence which formed a protection to a camp, and, after seizing a full- 

 grown o>x, bounded back with its victim, Sir Samuel Baker writes as follows : 

 "In the confusion of a night attack the scare is stupendous, and no person 

 would be able to declare that he actually saw the lion jump the fence with 

 the bullock in its grip. It might appear to do this, but the ox would struggle 

 violently, and in this struggle it would most probably burst through the fence, 

 and subsequently be dragged away by the lion. * * * It is quite a mistake 

 to suppose that a lion can carry a full-grown ox ; it will partially lift the fore- 

 quarter, and drag the carcass along the ground." 



It is stated that the usual pace of a lion when undisturbed is a walk, but even 

 then, from the length of his stride, he gets over the ground cjuicker than appears 

 to be the case. When going more rapidly I have never seen a lion bound, but 

 they come along at a clumsy gallop, somewhat after the manner of a dog, get- 

 ting over the ground very quickly. 



In regard tO' the ferocity or otherwise of the lion's disposition, very con- 

 flicting statements will be found in the writings of different observers. Thus, 

 whereas Livingstone states that nothing would lead him to attribute to the 

 lion either the ferocious or noble character ascribed to it by others, Sir Samuel 

 Baker is disposed to take a rather opposite view, observing that, although he 

 does not consider the lion to be either so formidable or so ferocious as the 

 tiger, yet there is no reason for despising an animal which has been respected 

 from the most remote anticjuity. 



All writers appear, however, to be agreed that, as a general rule (although 

 there are exceptions), a lio'U will not gO' out of his way to> make an unprovoked 

 attack upon human beings, and that, in point of fact, he will rather shun a 

 conflict when possible. "There is nearly always," writes Mr. Drummond, 

 "some explanation of its behavior when it acts otherwise; either the hunter 

 has approached so near before being" discovered that the animal is afraid to 

 turn tail, and, urged by its very fears, makes a charge ; or it may be half- fam- 

 ished, and having got hold of some prey, either of your killing or its own, will 

 not quit it without a contest; or, if a lioness with cubs, will fight in defense of 

 their supposed danger." Sir Samuel Baker's testimony is of a very similar 

 character, when he mentions that the expert swordsmen of Central Africa have 

 no dread of the lion when undisturbed by sportsmen, although they hold him 

 in the highest respect when he becomes the object of chase. Again, in another 

 passage, the same writer mentions that among the Hamran Arabs of the 

 Sudan the lions, although numerous, are never regarded as dangerous. 



