THE LION. 165 



rounded her, but which did not (at least as long as 

 the traveller looked on) dare to attack her*." 



The Lion does not willingly attack any animal 

 openly, unless provoked, or extremely hungry ; in 

 the latter case he is said to fear no danger, and to 

 be repelled by no resistance. The method in which 

 he takes his prey, is, almost always, to spring or throw 

 himself on it, with one vast bound, from the place of 

 his concealment : yet, if he chances to miss his leap, 

 he will not (the Hottentots invariably assured Dr. 

 Sparrman) follow his prey any farther; but, as though 

 he were ashamed, turning round towards the place 

 where he lay in ambush, slowly, and step by step, 

 measures the exact length between the two points, 

 in order to find how much too short, or how much 

 beyond the mark, he had taken his leap. — " From 

 all the most credible accounts that I coidd collect 

 concerning Lions (continues this intelligent writer), 

 as well as from what I saw myself, I think I may 

 safely conclude, that this beast is frequently a great 

 coward ; or, at least, deficient in point of courage 

 proportionate to his strength : on the other hand, 

 however, he sometimes shews an unusual degree of 

 intrepidity, of which I will just mention the follow- 

 ing instance, as it was related to me. 



" A Lion had broken into a walled Inclosure for 

 cattle, through the latticed gate, and had done 

 considerable damage, '!llie people belonging to the 

 farm were well assured of his coming again by the 

 same way. In consequence of this, they stretched 



* Span man's Vo\ age to tlic Ca^^e of Good Hope. 



