202 EASTERN ETHIOPIA xvi 



The name of lion is so linked with our language that 

 we speak of lion-hearted kings, squires, and warriors. 

 The animal is emblazoned on shields and banners ; it is 

 the emltlem of one evangelist and many saints. It 

 appears in the arms of the King of England and is the 

 symbol for British pluck. 



To-day in British East Africa, the naked Masai 

 armed only with spears and shields kill this ferocious 

 brute, and with pardonable pride a brave warrior wears 

 the mane as an adornment for his head on festive 

 occasions and in war. 



Formerly lions flourished throughout Africa, south- 

 eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Persia, and India. Civilisa- 

 tion has driven them from Europe, and in Asia they are 

 found in restricted districts. Lions must have been 

 easily accessible to the Romans, if the statements 

 made by historians are true concerning the great 

 numbers of these animals exhibited and destroyed in 

 the amphitheatres Some of them were obtained in 

 Mauretania, a country comprising the north-west 

 corner of Africa, now represented hy Algeria and a 

 part of Morocco. 



Those who desire to see the lion in a natural state 

 generally attempt to visit him in East Africa or in 

 Somaliland. No one can live in or visit these countries 

 without having his attention very forcibly directed to 

 these brutes. 



It is a great shock to learn that the lion, which from 

 our childhood ranks in our minds as the King of 

 Beasts, is in a British colony classed as vermin, and no 

 licence is required to kill him. 



The lion has no great use for huniau beings as food. 

 It is true when old age affects the lion's joints and his 

 teeth are worn he takes to man-eating : killing such 

 strong mammals as the zebra, buifalo, ox, and donkey, 

 his favourite food, requires agility as well as strength, 

 whereas it is a simple jDrocess to haunt the neighbour- 

 hood of villages and secure defenceless nien and women, 



