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mount Atlas, the tops of which are covered in 
eternal snows, have neither the strength nor the 
ferocity of the lions of Biledulgerid or Zaara, 
where the plains are covered with burning sands. 
It is particularly in these frightful deserts, that 
those enormous and terrible beasts are found, 
that seem to be the scourge and the terror of the 
neighbouring kingdoms. Happily, indeed, the 
species is not very numerous ; and it seems to be 
diminishing daily ; for those who have travelled 
through these countries, assure us, that there are 
by no means so many there at present, as were 
known formerly; and Mr. Shaw observes, that 
the Romans carried fifty times as many lions from 
Lybia, in one year, to combat in their amphi- 
theatres, as are to be found in the whole country 
at this time. The same remark is made with 
regard to Turkey, to Persia, and the Indies ; 
where the lions are found to diminish in their 
numbers every day. Nor is it difficult to assign 
the cause of this diminution ; it is obvious that 
it cannot be owing to the increase of the force 
of other quadrupeds, since they are all inferior 
to the lion, and, consequently, instead of lessening 
the number, only tend to increase the supplies on 
which they subsist ; it must, therefore, be occa- 
sioned by the increase ©f mankind ; for man is the 
only animal in nature capable of making head 
against fhese tyrants of the forest, and preventing 
their increase. The arms even of a Hottentot, 
or a negro, make them more than a match for 
this powerful creature; and they seldom make 
the attack without coming off victorious. Their 
usual manner is to find out his retreat, and with 
spears headed with iron, to provoke him to the 
combat ; four men are considered as sufficient 
for this encounter ; and he against whom the 
Hon flies, receives him upon his spear, while the 
