ADVENTURES WITH LIONS. 5 < i 



fierce and active than the male, as a general rule. Lionesses 

 which have never had young are much more dangerous than 

 those which have. At no time is the lion so much to be 

 dreaded as when his partner has got small young ones. At 

 that season he knows no fear, and, in the coolest and most 

 intrepid manner, he will face a thousand men. A remarkable 

 instance of this kind came under my own observation, which 

 confirmed the reports I had before heard from the nati/es. 

 One day, when out elephant-hunting in the territory of the 

 "Baseleka," accompanied by two hundred and fifty men, I 

 was astonished suddenly to behold a majestic lion slowly and 

 steadily advancing toward us with a dignified step and 

 undaunted bearing, the most noble and imposing that can 

 be conceived. Lashing his tail from side to side, and growl- 

 ing haughtily, his terribly expressive eye resolutely fixed 

 upon us, and displaying a show of ivory well calculated to 

 inspire terror among the timid "Bechuanas," he approached. 

 A headlong flight of the two hundred and fifty men was the 

 immediate result ; and, in the confusion of the moment, four 

 couples of my dogs, which they had been leading, were 

 allowed to escape in their couples. These instantly faced 

 the lion, who, finding that by his bold bearing he had 

 succeeded in putting his enemies to flight, now became 

 solicitous for the safety of his little family, with which the 

 lioness was retreating in the back-ground. Facing about, 

 he followed after them with a haughty and independent 

 step, growling fiercely at the dogs which trotted along on 

 either side of him. Three troops of elephants having been 

 discovered a few minutes previous to this, upon which I 

 was marching for the attack, I, with the most heartfelt 

 reluctance, reserved my fire. On running down the hill side 

 to endeavor to recall my dogs, I observed, for the first time, 

 the retreating lioness with four cubs. About twenty minutes 

 afterwards two noble elephants repaid my forbearance. 



Among Indian Nimrods, a certain class of royal tigers 



37 



