16 
THE LION. 
Can the Lion be tamed, so as not to hurt any person ? 
The Lion, when taken young, can be taught to treat 
his master with much attention and kindness. He will 
allow him to put his hand in his mouth, to take hold of 
his claws, and even to beat him severely, without show¬ 
ing any signj-s of anger. It is never safe, however, for a 
stranger to go within reach of a full grown Lion. 
Is the keeper always safe, in such familiar conduct with the Lion ? 
Even the keeper has often been known to suffer by 
placing too much confidence in the Lion. For this ani¬ 
mal has sometimes, on very slight provocation, killed the 
man with whom, for years, he had always been friendly 
and familiar. 
How does the Lion differ from the tiger ? 
The Lion and tiger, although animals of the same 
kind, are not equally cruel and voracious. In appear¬ 
ance, the Lion differs from the tiger, in having a more 
noble and majestic form, and in being adorned with a 
mane. His face is broader, and more terrible, but does 
not look so spiteful, as that of the tiger. The Lion 
destroys only to satisfy his hunger, while the tiger 
destroys because he is cruel, and often kills what he does 
not eat. The Lion is sensible to kindness, and becomes 
fond of his keeper, while the tiger treats every one, who 
comes near him, as an enemy. 
ANECDOTE I. 
A Hottentot went, one day, to drive his master’s cows 
to a pool of water, that they might drink, when, just be¬ 
fore he got there, he saw a huge Lion lying near the 
water, among the grass to cool himself. Being terribly 
alarmed at so unexpected a sight, he instantly ran away 
as fast as he could, and thinking the Lion would seize 
the first animal that came in his way, he went through 
the herd of cows, so that if the animal followed him, he 
might take a cow, instead of himself. But in this, the 
man was mistaken, for the Lion followed him through 
the herd, of which he took no notice, and pursued on 
after the Hottentot. The man on looking around and 
finding that the monstrous beast had his eyes fixed on 
him, and that he was singled out as his prey, became 
almost stupid with fear. He however had strength 
enough to scramble up into an aloe tree, in the trunk of 
which, luckily for him, there had been cut a few steps, 
for the purpose of coming to some birds’ nests, which its 
branches contained. At the moment of his going up the 
tree, the Lion made a spring at him, but missing his 
aim, fell to the ground. He arose, surly and disappoint¬ 
ed, and walking around the tree as if he intended yet 
to find out some way of getting to the poor Hottentot, 
who to avoid his seeing him, had crept behind the nests. 
It may be proper to observe, that these nests belonged 
to a small bird, called the sociable Grosbeak, and that 
hundreds of them build their nests in the same tree, so 
that they make nearly a solid clump, which is some¬ 
times almost as large as a load of hay. The Hottentot 
having hid himself among these nests, remained for a 
long time quite still, hoping that the Lion would get 
tired of watching for him, and go away. At last, he 
ventured to peep around one side of the nest, when to 
his terror, his eyes met those of the Lion, still greedily 
watching him, and as it were, devouring him with his 
looks. The man drew back his head in an instant, and 
again made himself as quiet as he could in so horrible a 
situation, for the animal looked so fierce, that the man 
did not know but he would try to climb the tree after 
him. The Lion seeing that the Hottentot was out of his 
reach, and that there was no other chance of success, 
but by waiting, quietly laid himself down at the foot of 
the tree, from which place he did not move for twenty- 
four hours. At the end of this time, the animal became 
so parched with thirst, that he was obliged to go down to 
the pool, to drink. The Hottentot seeing with joy, his 
terrible enemy had left him, with fear and trembling 
came down from the tree, and ran off to his house, as 
fast as his feet would carry him, where he arrived in 
safety. It appeared afterwards, that the Lion, having 
gone to the pool and drank, returned again to watch his 
prey, but having found by the scent, that the man had 
gone off, he followed him by his track, nearly to his 
house. 
This poor ignorant Hottentot had never read his Bible, 
and therefore did not know that there was a Saviour 
through whose kindness, he had been thus wonderfully 
preserved from the jaws of the lion. Had he known of 
this Saviour, and done his duty towards him, when he 
got home in safety, he would have kneeled down and 
thanked God, through him, that he had been preserved 
from a death so cruel, as that of being torn in pieces by 
the wild beast. 
* ANECDOTE II. 
It is said, that the Lion will sometimes become so 
attached to his keeper, as not to forget him, but will 
signify his kindness and attachment if he sees him after 
a separation of years. The following anecdote seems to 
show that this is true. 
Some company having dined one day, with the 
Duchess of Hamilton, after dinner went out to see a Lion 
fed, which she kept in a yard near her house. While 
the company were admiring his ferocity, and were teas¬ 
ing him with sticks, to make him leave his food and fly 
at them, a servant came to tell the Duchess, that some 
soldiers waited at the gate, and desired to be admitted to 
see the Lion. They were accordingly admitted, and 
came in just at the time, when the animal was in the 
