DISAPPEARANCE OF WILD ANIMALS 309 



buffalo was victorious : he gored the lion with his horns 

 and tossed him, and finally killed him. 



The Emperor Akbar was very partial to lion-hunting, 

 and frequently indulged in the sport. On two occasions, 

 however, when pursuing it, he had narrow escapes ; they 

 are thus related : On the first occasion the Emperor, 

 armed with bow and arrows, came on a lion ; the lion 

 advanced ; the Emperor drew his bow and let fly an 

 arrow ; the arrow struck the lion ; he fell mortally 

 wounded. But as he fell a second lion suddenly 

 appeared, and with rage and fury bounded towards the 

 Emperor. It came near, then it paused, turned, and 

 fled, its instinct inspiring it with terror at the aspect of 

 the Emperor, " Heaven's favourite." 



On the second occasion the Emperor's escape was due 

 to human intervention. The Emperor, as before, was 

 lion-hunting. Unexpectedly three lions rushed forward 

 to attack him. A young Uzbec noble was standing at 

 a little distance; beside him was the Emperor's favourite 

 horse " Kohpara " (mountain-sized) ; it was a horse 

 that feared neither lion nor elephant. Perceiving the 

 Emperor's danger, the young noble sprang at once on 

 Kohpara, and galloped forward to his assistance. One 

 lion he seized by the mane, and drove his dagger through 

 its throat. The lion fell dead. Then the young noble 

 caught hold of the other two lions by their necks, each 

 with one hand, and thus holding them, he dashed their 

 heads together, and with such violence that their skulls 

 were shattered, and they also fell dead beside their 

 companion lion. 



This young noble afterwards gave an exhibition of 



