Smyrna times., 1857-07-08
SeIett 9f(isttIImg,
The Lion and the GemsboCk.

By the following extract from DR.. Living
stones Travels in Southern Africa, just pub
lished by T. B. Peterson, Philadelphia, It will
be seen that the claims of the Lion to the title
of the King of Beasts, is to be disputed by a
most formidable competitor, an animal of whose
existence the majority OF our readers have
probably heretofore been ignorant:
Two hours after they left Col0sberg it was
their fortune to witness most Surprising COM
bat between full grown lion and buck ante
lope of the variety called gemSJOck. BY the
way, this antelope is one Of the great animal
curiosltles of those regions. Its size is about
equal to that of the ass. Its form is robust,
square and compacty built. Ii has a noble
bearing, expressive OF it's undaunted courage
The head and some parts of the body are orna-
mented by nature with black stripes or bands
disposed in a somewhat regular and apparently
fanciful manner. But the most striking Pc
culiarity of this creature is the shape of its
horns. These weapons are straight as a
pikestaff, nearly yard in length and as sharp
as sword. In combat the gemsbock or oryx
is more than match for the lion.
On the occasion to which we now have re-
ference, DR.. Livingstone and his PARTY had just
emerged from a narrow deti!e between TWO
rocky hills. when they heard an angry growl,
which they knew to be that of the monarch oi
the forrest" At the distance Of not more than
forty yards in advance of them, fine gemsbock
stood at bay, while a huge tawAy lion was
crouched on a rocky platform, above the level
of the plain, evidently meditatng an attack on
the antelope. Only Il space of about twenty
feet separated the two animals. The lien ap
peared to be animated with the greatest fury
the gemsbock was apparently calm and reso
4 II Il L.. i .
enemy. The lion cautiously changed his pO
sitlon, descended to the plain and made a cir
cult, obviously for the purpose of attacking the
gemsbock in the rear; but the latter was on the
alert, and still turned his head towards his an
tagonist. This manGuvering lasted for half al
hour when it appeared to the observers tha
the gemsbock used u stratagem to induce thu
lion TO make his assault. The flank of the an
telope was, fora moment, presented TO his fierce
assailant As quick as lightning the lion made
a spring, but while he was yet in the air, thu
gemsbock turned his head, bending his neck 81
as to present one of his spearlike horns at tht
lions breast. "A terrible laceration was tn,
consequence the lion fell back on his haunch
es, and showed ghastly wound i'll the lowe
part of his neck. He uttered u howl of rag
anguish and backed off to the distance of fifty
t feet, seeming half disposed to give up the con
test. But hunger, fury or revenge once NOR
impeled him forward. His nd assault wa
, more furious and headong he rushed at tn
gemsbock and attempted to leap over the for
midabe horns in order to alight on his back
a The gemsbock, still standing on the defensive
= elevated his head, speared the linn in the side
and inflicted what the spectators believed to b
} n mortal wound, as the horn penetrated to tn
D depth of six or eight inches. Again the io
nd in
which showed that he had been severely hurt
out he soon collected all his energies for anothe
9 attack At the instant of collision, the gems
: hook presented horn SO as to strike the lilo
n Immediately between his twofore-legs; and S
forceful was the stroke, that the whole lengt
of the horn was buried in the lions body. FC
y nearly miaute tine two beasts stood motion
: less; then the gemsbeck, slowly backing, will
t drew his horn, and the lion totte red and fell
O his side, his limbs quivering in the agonies
! death. The victor made a triumphant fouris
= of his heels and trotted of, apparently withot
having received the least injury in the con6ic
1t DIR. Livingstone beheld this SIGHT with III
Q speakable astonishment; he had always unde
J. stood that no other beast could successfully col
tend with the African lion, and iaothing but III
- evidence of his own senses could have mad
= him believe that grazing quGdruped, whlc
le generally exhibits the most peaceful tempe
ID could have triumphed in an encounter with
creature whose prowess and ferocity are su
posed to be unrivalled in the whole range
70 animated nature. The IIottentot attendant a
r sured the Doctor, however, that they had vi
90 messed similar combats before, and that thu
generally terminated in the sane manner.
., The gemsbock, oryx, or straightforward a
ed telope, is seldom seen except IN those parts
ofI Africa which are thinly settled. Notwit
at s.aning its courage shownin The resistance