700 



THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



strife. The scene was of so imposing a nature that for the moment I forgot I carried 

 a gun. The natives, however, in anticipation of a glorious gorge, dashed madly for- 

 ward, and with the most piercing shrieks and yells compelled" the lions to a hasty 

 retreat. When I reached the giraffe, now stretched at full length on the sand, it made 

 a few ineffectual attempts to raise its neck ; its body heaved and quivered for a mo- 

 ment, and the next instant the poor animal was dead. It had received several deep 

 gashes about the flanks and chest, caused by the claws and teeth of its fierce assail- 

 ants. The strong and tough muscles of the neck were also bitten through. All 

 thought of pursuing the wounded lion was now out of the question. The natives 

 remained gorging on the carcass of the giraffe until it was devoured. A day or two 

 afterward, however, I had the good fortune to fall in with my royal antagonist, and 

 finished him without difficulty." 



During the day-time the lion seldom attacks man, and sometimes even when meet- 

 ing a traveler he is said to pass him by unnoticed ; but when the shades of evening 

 descend, his mood undergoes a change. After sunset it is dangerous to venture into 

 the woody and wild regions of Mount Atlas, for there the lion lies in wait, and there 

 one finds him stretched across the narrow path. It is then that dramatic scenes of 

 absorbing interest not unfrequently take place. When, so say the Bedouins, a single 

 man thus meeting with a lion is possessed of an undaunted heart, he advances towards 

 the monster brandishing his sword or flourishing his rifle high in the air, and, taking 

 good care not to strike or to shoot, contents himself with pouring forth a torrent of 

 abuse: "Oh, thou mean-spirited thief! thou pitiful waylayer ! thou son of owe that 

 never ventured to say no ! think'st thou I fear thee ? Knowest thou whose son I am ? 

 Arise, and let me pass !" The lion waits till the man approaches quite near to him ; 

 then he retires, but soon stretches himself once more across the path ; and thus by 

 many a repeated trial puts the courage of the wanderer to the test. All the time the 

 movements of the lion are attended with a dreadful noise, he breaks numberless 

 branches with his tail, he roars, he growls ; like the cat with the mouse, he plays with 

 the object of his repeated and singular attacks, keeping him perpetually suspended 

 between hope and fear. If the man engaged in this combat keeps up his courage, — 

 if, as the Arabs express themselves, " he holds fast his soul," then the brute at last 

 quits him and seeks some other prey. But if the lion perceives that he has to do 

 with an opponent whose courage falters, whose voice trembles, who does not venture 

 to utter a menace, then to terrify him still more he redoubles the described manoeuvres. 

 He approaches his victim, pushes him from the path, then leaves him and approaches 

 again, and enjoys the agony of the wretch, until at last he tears him to pieces. 



The lion is said to have a particular liking for the flesh of the Hottentots, and it is 

 surprising with what obstinacy he will follow one of these unfortunate savages. Thus 

 Mr. Barrow relates the adventure of a Namaqua Hottentot, who, endeavoring to drive 

 his master's cattle into a pool of water enclosed between two ridges of rocks, espied a 

 huge lion couching in the midst of the pool. Terrified at the unexpected sight of such 

 a beast, that seemed to have his eyes fixed upon him, he instantly took to his heels. 

 In doing this he had presence of mind enough to run through the herd, concluding 

 that if the lion should pursue he would take up with the first beast that presented 

 itself. In this, however, he was mistaken. The lion broke through the herd, making 

 directly after the Hottentot, who, on turning round and perceiving that the monster 



