THE LION. 
221 
the borders of China, and all over Africa. 
Its range formerly extended over Syria, Asia 
Minor and the northern parts of Greece; 
and some ancient writers have declared that 
it was formerly found on the Danube; but 
this is a disputed point. Herodotus—who, 
as you know, Richard, is the earliest of pro¬ 
fane historians—says that the baggage-camels 
of Xerxes were attacked by lions in Mace¬ 
donia ; and that they were very common in 
Palestine we may learn from the constant 
allusions made to them in the Sacred Scrip¬ 
tures. They made their lairs in the thick 
groves which fringed both sides of the river 
Jordan, and were often driven from their 
retreats by the rising of the stream, which 
‘ overfloweth its banks at the time of har¬ 
vest.’ At such times they were more than 
usually dangerous; and hence the expression, 
‘He shall come up as a lion from the swell¬ 
ings of Jordan.’ Allusions to them in the 
Psalms are frequent and graphic :— 4 My soul 
is among lions;’ ‘Deliver my soul from the 
lions,’ occur several times. ‘ Like as a lion that 
is greedy of his prey, and as it were a lion’s 
whelp lurking in secret places;’ ‘ The young 
lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat 
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