1812. 
MAN'S SUPREMACY ON THE GLOBE. 
207 
him. His roaring, was intended to strike fear into the cattle and to 
put them to flight ; in which case, he would have pursued, and easily 
have secured, his prey. It was his natural fear of man, which alone 
withheld him from springing upon them at once, or even upon us, as 
we lay quite exposed upon the bare ground ; for we had, as I have 
remarked, little or no fire burning at that time. 
As far as I am enabled to judge, there is no region in any quarter 
of the world, which can hold competition with Southern Africa in 
number of large animals. It would be a novel and not uninstructive 
mode of comparing the zoology of different countries, by noting 
the aggregate weight of the wild animals of each country (meaning 
one individual of each species) divided by the total number of species. 
If a table of this kind were formed, I think there is little doubt that 
Southern Africa would be found to stand at the head of it. 
Although we are taught to believe that man is the supreme 
animal of this globe ; and every thing we behold, even in civilized 
countries, confirms that belief ; yet still the mind can never derive 
so perfect a conviction of this truth, as when viewing a country 
in a state of nature, where men and multitudes of wild beasts 
of every class, roam unrestrained, in all the freedom of creation. 
Can we view animals of immense bulk and strength, either flying 
from man, or submitting to his domination and labouring in his im- 
mediate service, without acknowledging at once that their timidity 
or submission forms a part of that wise plan, predetermined by the 
Deity, for giving supreme power to him who is physically the weakest 
of them all ? or can we doubt that a part of that plan was, that man 
should rule alone by tlie divine spirit of reason and superior intellect, 
and, at his own option and freewill, either by the exercise of these, 
elevate himself above the rest of the animal creation, or by the 
neglect of them sink himself below the beasts ? For man has 
nought else of which to be proud, but reason and virtue : without 
these he is still but mere animal, his existence is useless in the 
great final cause of the universe, and he will surely have to 
answer for his voluntary deficiencies in them, to that Aweful, Good 
and Great, Power, who will know no other distinction amona- man- 
