THE KOATt AT MIDNIGHT. 
15 
when sojourning with some natives that he fell, in 
with in his wanderings, who lived entirely on roots 
and the produce of the chase, and who seemed per¬ 
fectly versed in all the tactics of the lion—“ one 
of those beasts passed near us, occasionally giving 
a roar, which softly died away on the extended 
plain, and it was responded to by another at a 
distance. Directing the attention of these Balala, 
and asking if they thought there was danger, they 
turned their ears as to a voice with which they were 
familiar, and after listening for a moment or two 
replied. ‘ There is no danger, he has eaten and is 
going to sleep. 5 They were right, and we slept 
also. Asking them in the morning how they knew 
the lions were going to sleep, they replied :— c We 
live with them, they are our companions. 5 55 
Impressive and terrible as is the roar of the lion, 
cattle, unless they scent the beast, or have been 
previously wounded by him, would not appear to 
take so much notice of it as is generally repre¬ 
sented. I at least have known the lion to 
growl—ay, to roar most savagely—within gun-shot 
of my bivouac, and not an ox or sheep stirred A' 
* What Anderson here tells us seems somewhat contradictory to 
the experiences of other travellers, to that of MofFatt, at least, who 
at page 131 says : “ One night we were quietly bivouacked at a small 
pool in the Orep river, where we never anticipated a visit from his 
majesty; we had just closed our united evening worship, the book 
was still in my hand, and the closing notes of the song of praise 
had scarcely fallen from our lips, when the terrific roar of the lion 
was heard; our oxen, which before were quietly chewing the cud, 
rushed upon us, and over our fires, leaving us prostrated in a cloud 
of dust and sand; hats and hymn-books, our bible and our guns, 
were all scattered in wild confusion. Providentially no serious 
