2] 
CHAPTER IX. 
NATURE OF THE LION’S PREY—SAID TO EAT HIS MATE—DESTRUC¬ 
TIVE TO CATTLE—THE LION A “ MAN-EATER ”—THE WHITE MAN 
VERSUS THE BLACK—NATIVES COMPELLED TO LIVE IN TREES— 
MANNER IN WHICH THE LION SEIZES HIS PREY—THE LION’S 
BOUND—THE WOUNDS HE INFLICTS—FOOT OF THE LION—HIS 
GLUTTONY—FAMILIARITY OF INFERIOR ANIMALS WITH HIM— 
THE LION’S FLESH—AGE TO WHICH HE ATTAINS—ATTEMPTS 
SUICIDE. 
Til HE lion preys on most of the animals inhabit- 
-L ing the African wilds that chance to fall in 
his way; but the antelope tribe would seem to be 
the chief objects of his pursuit. It happens, how¬ 
ever, that the beast is beaten off by the powerful 
gemsbok, or oryx, on whose long and sharp horns, 
indeed, he is occasionally impaled, and in such wise 
that, being unable to extricate himself, both in con¬ 
sequence perish. Even the tall giraffe, as will here¬ 
after be seen, is not unfrequently his victim. 
At times, likewise, the young of the elephant 
becomes his prey. “ He lies in ambush for it,” 
says Delegorgue, “ and pulls it to the ground; and 
after strangling it, walks off without disputing his 
prize with its dam, being certain of recovering it at 
an after-period.” 
Occasionally, moreover, he attacks and kills the 
