CHAPTER FIVE 

 THE LIONS OF TANGANYIKA 



OF all animals the lion is the most interesting 

 in its natural hamits, and because they are so 

 fascinating we can find no end of reasons to write 

 about them. Not only has Felis leo always intrigued 

 the imagination of mankind, but in spite of the popular 

 behefs to the contrary, he has always been a gentleman. 

 The hon is brave, and, hke a brave man, he is never 

 treacherous nor trouble seeking. He goes his own way 

 and only asks to be left alone. When danger threatens 

 he will seek to avoid it if possible, but when pressed 

 too much, his oppressor is courting swift punishment, 

 for the hon will not allow his dignity to be assailed, nor 

 will he allow a hurt to go unchallenged. 



When the early Egyptians became acquainted with 

 the king of beasts, they started a hne of argument 

 about his habits that has persisted to this day. Even 

 these ancients, however, were aware of his nobler 

 quahties and blunted many a chisel carving his image 

 in stone. 



From that time to this, the lion has received more 

 space in print than any other animal. He has been 

 written about and sung about. He has been painted 

 and sketched often enough to make his face and general 

 shape well known to everybody in every land. 



Since the time when the Nile was the Broadway of 

 the world, and later when the Greeks and Romans 



79 



