28 
CARNIVORA. 
THE ASIATIC, OR YELLOW LION. 
Two young officers of his Majesty’s 8th regiment 
of Light Dragoons, during one of the late cam- 
paigns in India, went out one morning on a hunt- 
ing excursion ; and, having quitted their elephants, 
were walking near a jungle ; one, who was more ex- 
perienced in the country than his companion, sud- 
denly observed a recent track, of what he took to be a 
tiger ; instinctively looking back toward the jungle, 
they hastened forward in the direction of it, and in 
the middle of a field found the mangled remains of a 
nyl-ghau, or, as it is pronounced, neel-ghy {antilo'pe 
picta, et trago-camelus). They were surprised to ob- 
serve no less than three distinct tracks, all leading to 
the prey, but from different parts of the jungle ; and 
justly concluded, that there were more than one of 
these fierce animals near them. While returning to 
their elephant and their party, among whom was one 
of the gentlemen who have charge of the elephants 
belonging to the East India Company, they were 
astonished to see a lion come out to the edge of the 
jungle, open his jaws, and stretch himself, and then 
coolly return into the cover. Having mounted their 
elephant, a large female, they returned into the 
juugle with more courage than wisdom ; but they 
had scarcely advanced a few yards when the lion 
sprang at them \ and the elephant, wheeling round. 
