Or.DEi; V. TIIK CA)iXIVOKA. ii;5 



about iiiidiiiglit, tlicy got into complL'te confusion. About tiiirtv pncc.s from 

 tlic tent stood a lion, wbicb, on seeing us, nnlked vei-y tleliberately about 

 tliirty pares fartber, bebind a small tlmrn busb, can-ving sonietlilng witb 

 bini wbicb I took to be a young ox. ^^'e fired more lb:ui sixty sliots at tbe 

 busli. Tbe soutb-east wind blew strong, tbe sky was clear, and tbe moon 

 sbone very lirigbt, so tbat we cor.ld perceive anytbing at a sbort distance. 

 After tbe cattle bad been (piieted again, and I bad looked over evervtbiiig, 

 I missed tiie sentry from before tbe tent. We called as loudly as possible, 

 but in vain. Nobody answered ; from wbicb I concluded be was carried 

 off. Tbrcc or four men tben adxanced very cautiously to tiie busb, wbicb 

 stood rigbt opposite tbe door of tbe tent, to see if tbey could discover any- 

 tliing of tbe man, Intt returned belter-skelter; for tbe lion, wbo was still 

 tbere, rose up, and began to roar. About a lunidrcd sbots were again fired 

 at tbe busb, witbout perceiving anytbing of bim. Tbis induced one of tbe 

 men again to ap[)roacb it witb a firebrand in bis band ; but as soon as be 

 approacbcd tbe busb tbe lion roared terribly, and leaped at bim, on wbicli 

 be tbrew tbe fireljrand at bim, and tbe otbca- people ba\"ing fired about ten 

 sbots at bim, be returned immediately to bis former station. 



" Tbe firebrand wbii b be bad tlu'own at tbe lion bad fidlcn in tlic midst 

 of tbe busb, an<l, fa\ored by tbe wind, began to burn wilb a great llame, so 

 tbat wc could see \ery clearly into it and tbrou.gb it. W'c continued our 

 firing into it; tbe nigbt passed away, and tbe day began to break, wbicb 

 animated every one to fire at tbe lion, because be could not lie tbere witbout 

 exposing bimself entirely. Seven men, posted at tbe fartbest wagons, 

 watclied to take aim at bim as be came out. At last, before it became quite 

 ligbt, be walked up tbe bill witb tbe man in bis moutb, wbeu about forty 

 sbots were fired witbout bitting bim." 



Tbe strengtb of tbese animals is almost incredible. One of tlicm ^^ ill 

 seize an ox of tbe largest size, and drag bim off witbout trouble ; and 

 Sparrman relates an instance vf a lion at tbe Cape " seizing a beifcr in bis 

 moutb, and, tliougb tbe legs dragged upon tiic ground, be seemed to carry 

 ber off witb as mucb ease as a cat does a rat. lie also leaped over a broad 

 dike witb ber witbout tbe least difficulty." Anotber traveller in Soutb 

 Africa — Tliompson — relates a more remarkable instance of strengtb. 

 " A lion, baving carried off a beifcr of two years old, was followed on tbe 

 spoor or track for fully five bours, by a party on borseback, and tbrougbout 

 tbe wbole distance tbe carcass of tbe beifcr was only once or twice discov- 

 ered to bave touebed tbe ground." 



Tbe favorite food of tbe lion ajipears to be deer, antelopes, and cspeciallj' 

 asses or borses. Tbe lion's fondness for borse-flesb undoubtedly gave rise 

 to tbe opinion tbat bis favorite luxury was buman prey, as be would attack 

 XO. III. l,j 



