SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
317 
than the wild ass, though he joins with Ludolf in 
lamenting, that so elegant a species should not be 
honoured with a name more worthy of his appear- 
ance. 
About 176*0, the Abbe Lacaille, an eminent 
French astronomer, and member of the French 
Academy of Sciences, made a journey to the 
Cape, with the view of making some important 
observations. To these his attention was chiefly 
confined ; but he wrote also a short journal, con- 
taining some curious remarks. He criticises very 
severely some of the statements of Kolben, who, he 
asserts, never travelled beyond the colony, nor even 
visited the remoter parts of it, 
In 177^-6, Dr Andrew Sparmann of Stockholm 
made a variety of excursions in the vicinity of the 
Cape. His observations are chiefly confined to the 
natural history ; in which view they are valuable, 
though not easily admitting of abridgment, and we 
can only select a few of the most remarkable fea- 
tures. 
The lion appears less ferocious here than in 
Asia. It here seldom attacks any of the stronger 
animals, unless when provoked, or severely pressed 
by hunger. It displays then astonishing strength, 
and has been seen to leap a hedge holding an ox 
in its mouth. Dr Sparmann agrees with the other 
