ADVENTURES WITH LIONS. 573 
and imposing in the presence of the lion, when seen walking 
with dignified self-possession, free and undaunted, on his 
native soil, that no description can convey an adequate idea 
of his striking appearance. The lion is exquisitely formed 
by nature for the predatory habits which he is destined to 
pursue. Combining in comparatively small compass the 
qualities of power and agility, he is enabled, by means of 
the tremendous machinery with which nature has gifted 
him, easily to overcome and destroy almost every beast of 
the forest, however superior to him in weight and stature. 
Though considerably under four feet in height, he has 
little difficulty in dashing to the ground and overcoming the 
lofty and apparently powerful giraffe, whose head towers above 
the trees of the forest, and whose skin is nearly an inch in 
thickness. The lion is the constant attendant of the vast 
herds of buffaloes which frequent the interminable forests of 
the interior; and a full-grown one, so long as his teeth are 
unbroken, generally proves a match for an old bull buffalo, 
which in size and strength greatly surpasses the most 
powerful breed of English cattle: the lion also preys on all 
the larger varieties of the antelopes, and on both varieties 
of the gnu. The zebra, which is met with in large herds 
throughout the interior, is also a favorite object of his pursuit. 
Lions do not refuse, as has been asserted, to feast upon 
the venison that they have not killed themselves. I have 
repeatedly discovered lions of all ages which had taken 
possession of, and were feasting upon, the carcasses of 
various game quadrupeds which had fallen before my rifle. 
The lion is very generally diffused throughout the secluded 
parts of Southern Africa. He is, however, nowhere met 
with in great abundance, it being very rare to find more 
than three, or even two, families of lions frequenting the 
same district and drinking at the same fountain. When a 
greater number were met with, I remarked it was owing to 
long-protracted droughts, which, by drying nearly all the 
