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quick or so resolute as a tiger's, and he has a much better head to 

 hit ; still, he looks ugly enough when, with mane standing out 

 as if electrified, and with a short, barking roar, he comes down 

 to the charge. He will not, except when hard pressed by hunger, 

 or when accustomed to feed off human carcases lying about after 

 fights and raids, attack man in the daytime unprovoked. A 

 surly beast, awakened suddenly from sleep, or disturbed while 

 feeding, might be nasty ; but he nearly always retreats before 

 man, for the fear and the dread of one of Noah's family are still 

 a tradition with wild beasts. But even in the cases above 

 mentioned his conduct very much depends on yours. In the 

 daylight wild animals, especially the wildebeest and quagga, 

 show but little fear, running up to within fifty yards, and gazing 

 at him as if fascinated. 



In my first journey I hunted for many weeks with a party 

 of Bushmen, and gained many valuable hints about beasts and 

 their ways from them ; and, with regard to the lion, I learned 

 that if you came unarmed on one, your best chance was to 

 stand still and he would move off, but that if you turned and 

 ran, he was nearly sure to make after you. Three times in 

 my shooting life have I tested this advice once on horseback, 

 twice on foot. On the first occasion, without a gun, I came 

 quite unawares upon a sleeping lion. He woke, stood up, and 

 we looked at each other for a few seconds. Then he turned, 

 walked away very slowly for thirty or forty yards, as if he 

 wished to convey the idea that he was only moving to get out 

 of such low society throwing his head first over one shoulder, 

 then the other, to see what impression he was making and 

 directly he thought he was out of sight broke into a lumber- 

 ing gallop. If he shows an inclination to hold his own 

 when met, the Bushmen stoop, and, with their hands resting 

 on their knees, begin to walk very slowly towards him. He 

 raises his head and watches the man suspiciously, trying to 

 find out what he is about, and then, turning, retreats. I would 

 not say that this plan would be always successful, but I firmly 

 believe it is the best to try when you are unarmed. I have 



