468 THE FELIDxE OF THE OLD WOELD 



lion lies in wait, and there one finds him stretched across the 

 narrow path. It is then that dramatic scenes of absorbing in- 

 terest not unfrequently take place. When, so say the Bedouins, 

 a single man thus meeting with a lion is possessed of an un- 

 daunted heart, he advances towards the monster brandishing 

 his sword or flourishing his rifle high in the air, and, taking 

 good care not to strike or to shoot, contents himself with pouring 

 forth a torrent of abuse: — "Oh, thou mean-spirited thief! thou 

 pitiful waylayer ! thou son of one that never ventured to say 

 no ! think'st thou I fear thee ? Knowest thou whose son I am ? 

 Arise, and let me pass ! " The lion waits till the man ap- 

 proaches quite near to him ; then he retires, but soon stretches 

 himself once more across the path ; and thus by many a repeated 

 trial puts the courage of the wanderer to the test. All the 

 time the movements of the lion are attended with a dreadful 

 noise, he breaks numberless branches with his tail, he roars, he 

 growls ; like the cat with the mouse, he plays with the object 

 of his repeated and singular attacks, keeping him perpetually 

 suspended between hope and fear. If the man engaged in 

 this combat keeps up his courage, — if, as the Arabs express 

 themselves, "he holds fast his soul," then the brute at last 

 quits him and seeks some other prey. But if the lion perceives 

 that he has to do with an opponent whose courage falters, 

 whose voice trembles, who does not venture to utter a menace, 

 then to terrify him still more he redoubles the described 

 manoeuvres. He approaches his victim, pushes him from the 

 path, then leaves him and approaches again, and enjoys the 

 agony of the wretch, until at last he tears him to pieces. 



The lion is said to have a particular liking for the flesh of the 

 Hottentots, and it is surprising with what obstinacy he will 

 follow one of these unfortunate savages. Thus Mr. Barrow 

 relates the adventure of a Namaqua Hottentot, who, endeavour- 

 ing to drive his master's cattle into a pool of water enclosed 

 between two ridges of rocks, espied a huge lion couching in the 

 midst of the pool. Terrified at the unexpected sight of such a 

 beast, that seemed to have his eyes fixed upon him, he instantly 

 took to his heels. In doing this he had presence of mind 

 enough to run through the herd, concluding that if the lion 

 should pursue he would take up with the first beast that pre- 

 sented itself. In this, however, he was mistaken. The lion 



