CAT KIND. 401 



arts of man, that are sufficient to conquer the 

 lion, serve also to enervate and discourage him ; 

 for he is brave only in proportion to the success 

 of his former encounters. In the vast deserts of 

 Zaara, in the burning sands that lie between 

 Mauritania and Negroland, in the uninhabited 

 countries that lie to the north of CafTraria, and, 

 in general, in all the deserts of Africa, where 

 man has not fixed his habitation, the lions are 

 found in great numbers, and preserve their natu- 

 ral courage and force. Accustomed to measure 

 their strength with every animal they meet, the 

 habit of conquering renders them intrepid and 

 terrible. Having never experienced the dange- 

 rous arts and combinations of man, they have no 

 apprehensions from his power. They boldly face 

 him, and seem to brave the force of his arms. 

 Wounds rather serve to provoke their rage than 

 repress their ardour. They are not daunted 

 even with the opposition of numbers : a single 

 lion of the desert often attacks an entire cara- 

 van ; and, after an obstinate combat, when he 

 finds himself overpowered, instead of flying, he 

 continues to combat, retreating, and still facing 

 the enemy till he dies. On the contrary, the 

 lions which inhabit the peopled countries of Mo- 

 rocco or India, having become acquainted with 

 human power, and experienced man's superio- 

 rity, have lost all their courage, so as to be 

 scared away with a shout ; and seldom attack 

 any but the unresisting flocks or herds, which 

 even women and children are sufficient to pro- 

 tect. 



VOL. II. C C 



