400 ANIMALS OF THE 



there at present as were known formerly; and 

 Mr Shaw observes, that the Romans carried fifty 

 times as many lions from Libya in one year, to 

 combat in their amphitheatres, as are to be found 

 in the whole country at this time. The same re- 

 mark is made with regard to Turkey, to Persia, 

 and the Indies, where the lions are found to di- 

 minish in their numbers every day. Nor is it 

 difficult to assign the cause of this diminution. 

 It is obvious that it cannot be owing to the in- 

 crease of the force of other quadrupeds, since 

 they are all inferior to the lion, and consequent- 

 ly, instead of lessening the number, only tend to 

 increase the supplies on which they subsist; it 

 must, therefore, be occasioned by the increase of 

 mankind, who is the only animal in nature capa- 

 ble of making head against these tyrants of the 

 forest, and preventing their increase. The arms 

 even of a Hottentot or a Negro make them 

 more than a match for this powerful creature ; 

 and they seldom make the attack without com- 

 ing off victorious. Their usual manner is to find 

 out his retreat, and, with spears headed with 

 iron, to provoke him to the combat. Four men 

 are considered as sufficient for this encounter; 

 and he against whom the lion flies receives him 

 upon his spear, while the others attack him be- 

 hind. The lion finding himself wounded in the 

 rear, turns that way, and thus gives the man he 

 first attacked an opportunity to recover. In this 

 manner they attack him on all sides, until at 

 last they entirely disable, and then dispatch 

 him. This superiority in the numbers and the 



