2 THE LION. 



anecdote, related by Dr. Sparrman, furnishes a remarkable 

 proof: 



" A Hottentot, perceiving that he was followed by a 

 Lion, and concluding that the animal only awaited the 

 approach of night to make him his prey, began to consi- 

 der what was the best mode of providing for his safety, 

 which he at length effected in the following singular 

 manner : Observing a piece of broken ground, with a 

 precipitate descent on one side, he sat down by the edge 

 of it, and found, to his great joy, that the lion also made 

 a halt, and kept at a distance behind him. As soon as it 

 grew dark, the man, sliding gently forward, let himself 

 down a little below the edge of the steep, and held up his 

 cloak and hat on a stick, at the same time gently moving 

 them backward and forward. The lion, after a while, 

 came creeping gently towards the object ; and, mistaking 

 the skin-cloak for the man himself, made a spring, and fell 

 headlong down the precipice. By these means the poor 

 fellow was safely delivered from his horrible and rapacious 

 enemy." 



The lion, while young and active, lives by hunting 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 purpose of surprise, he boldly comes down into places 

 more frequented, attacks the flocks and herds that take 

 shelter near the habitations of the shepherd or the hus- 

 bandman and depends rather upon his courage than his 

 address, for support. It is remarkable, however, that 

 when he makes one of these sallies, if he finds men and 

 quadrupeds ia the same field, he only attacks the latter, 

 and never meddles with men, unless they provoke 

 him to engage. It is observed, that he prefers the 

 flesh of camels to any other food ; he is likewise said to 

 be fond of that of young elephants ; these he often attacks 

 before their tusks are yet grown 5 and, unless the old 

 elephant comes to their assistance, he makes them an easy 

 prey. 



The flesh of the Lion, though of a disagreeable flavour, 

 is yet frequently eaten by the negroes; and the skin, 

 which was formerly a robe of distinction for heroes, is 

 now used by those people as a mantle or a bed. 



The LIONESS, or female lion, is somewhat smaller than 

 the lion, she is destitute of a mane, is less patient, 

 and more ferocious in her character. 



