236 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



CHAPTER XII 



THE LION 

 BY F. J. JACKSON 



THE lion (F. Ieo\ known to the natives as ' Simba,' when 

 described as ' King of the African forests,' is, I venture to say, 

 altogether misnamed, as he has neither the awe-inspiring and 

 majestic bearing of the elephant, nor the viciousness and in- 

 domitable pluck of the buffalo. His roar when heard pretty 

 close to camp on a still night is certainly very grand, more 

 particularly when two or more lions are together, and this must 

 be heard to be thoroughly appreciated. I have twice heard a 

 troop of lions roaring inside thick forest, close to my camp, 

 which was pitched just outside in the open. The continuous 

 chorus of roars they emitted was quite extraordinary, as it 

 vibrated and rolled along through the trees, the foliage of 

 which appeared to confine and intensify the volume of 

 sound. 



When seen out in the open there is absolutely nothing ma- 

 jestic in the bearing of lions ; their heads are carried low down 

 below the line of their backs, as they slouch along their hind- 

 quarters have an appearance of weakness, and when seen from 

 behind sway and wobble from side to side, while the up-and- 

 down movement of their shoulder-blades at each step, and their 

 general appearance of looseness, do not add to their dignity. 

 Certainly a maned lion, when standing broadside on or facing, 

 with head erect, is a grand-looking beast ; but when galloping 

 or trotting away on being disturbed, with head held low down, 



