410 ANIMALS OF THE 



side to the other, and bounding rather than run- 

 ning. When the hunters approach him, they 

 either shoot or throw their javelins ; and in this 

 manner disable him before he is attacked by the 

 dogs, many of whom he would otherwise destroy. 

 He is very vivacious, and is never killed at once, 

 but continues to fight desperately even after he 

 has received his mortal blow. He is also taken 

 by pit-falls, the natives digging a deep hole in the 

 ground, and covering it slightly over with sticks 

 and earth ; which, however, give way beneath his 

 weight, and he sinks to the bottom, from whence 

 he has no means of escape. But the most usual 

 manner of taking this animal is while a cub, and 

 incapable of resistance. The place near the den 

 of the lioness is generally well known by the 

 greatness of her depredations on that occasion ; 

 the natives, therefore, watch the time of her ab- 

 sence, and, aided by a swift horse, carry off her 

 cubs, which they sell to strangers, or to the great 

 men of their country." 



The lion while young and active lives by hunt- 

 ing in the forest, at the greatest distance from any 

 human habitation, and seldom quits this retreat 

 while able to subsist by his natural industry ; but 

 when he becomes old, and unfit for the purposes 

 of surprise, he boldly comes down into places 

 more frequented, attacks the flocks and herds 

 that take shelter near the habitation of the shep- 

 herd or the husbandman, and depends rather up- 

 on his courage than his address for support. It 

 is remarkable, however, that when he makes one 

 of these desperate sallies, if he finds men and qua- 



