Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-08-15
THE LION.

A WRITER in Land and Water thus
pleasantly relates what he knows of the
King of Beasts
The public must feel some difficulty in
forming true estimate of the prOwess of
the African lion from the number of con-
tlicting statements made by different trav-
elers and hunters. The truth appears to
be that while each one has formed an
opinion from the behavior of the particu-
lar animals they CHANGED to meet with,
the fact that every single lion differs from
another in temper and disposition has
been allowed to drop out of sight. That
some lions will make point of attacking
any human being they see without the
slightest provocatiOn admits of no doubt,
while it is at least equally certain that
there are others that can hardly be forced
to retaliate, and which, even when wound
ed, will always rather run than fight.
Generally speaking, and subject to the
above exceptions, / have found that the
lion of Southeastern Africa rarely goes out
of its way to attack people; will, in point
of fact, shun conflict when avOidable.
There is nearly always some explanation
of its behavior when it acts otherwise ;
either the hunter has approached so near
before seen that the animal is afraid to
turn tail, and, urged by its very fears,
makes a CHARGE or it may be half fam
ished, and, having got hold of some prey,
either of your killing or its own, will not
quit it without a contest, Or if lioness
with cubs, will fight in defense of their
supposed danger.
In all the above cases, utter immObility
and GOODNESS will often avert an attack.
If the animal, judging by your behavior,
imagines that you do not want to hurt it,
it will, after trying you for several min
utes, and even making one or two sham
charges, often walk away and allow you
to do the same; but merely raising the
arm, much less pointing the gun at it, is
sure to make it come on. One or two in
stances of this occur to me. A large
native hunting party had gone out, and
were scattered over the thorns. One of
my gun bearers, who had gone with it,
suddenly found himself face to face with
full grown male lion, without a yard be-
tween them. He had presence of mind
enough to stand perfectly still, without
even attempting to take one of the
spears he carried in his left hand into the
other After couple of minutes the
Orute turned away, turning around every
econd to watch them. Before going far
it met another man, who raised his spear,
as if to throw it. 1t instantly sprang on
aim, and inflicted such wounds that he
died within half an hour. | have no
doubt that if this man also had stood still
he would have been perfectly safe. Again,
hunter of mine was following buffalo
tracks into some thickets suddenly male
lion rose out of one of them and snarled
at him; he had hardly seen it when an
other, about three-quarters grown, showed
itself little on one side and from be-
hind he heard the low growing of a
third. Partly turning, so as to watch
them all, he saw the latter was lioness /;
and that three cubs, not much larger than
cats, were following their mother, one of
them running toward him without show
ing the least fear He had, unawares, got
into the center of lion family. The
lioncss, in fear of her offspring, rushed
up, and, as he afterward described it, fair
ly danced round and round him, spring
ing to within a yard of him, sideways,
backwards, and every way but on him.
In this case, also, he stood still without
any movement, for, as said, is was a
hundred to one he did not kill the mother;
and, suppose he had, the other two would
have soon avenged her. 1t ended by their
ultimately retiring into the thicket, and
Watching him as he cleared out, Had he
been nervous, or done anything but re-
main quiet, there is no doubt he would
not have come out alive.
On the other hand, lion will seldom
stand much bullying. He may, and often
will, get out of your way; nay, even leave
his prey if you approach it, and should
you follow him, will perhaps do so a
second time, but that is about the extent
of it. He seems to argue: Give retired
twice, and here you are at me again; we'll,
YOU dare" and then, if male, he growls
deeply and makes his name bristle up
round him; or, if lioness, crouches
down like cat, lays her ears back, and
shows her teeth. In any case you are in
for it, the brute is fairly reused, and retire
or advance as you like, charge is newt
able.
/ lived for many years among these
animals, and their very name recalls In.
Vulnerable recollections and anecdotes.
Perhaps the most beautiful sight | ever
saw in connection with them, worth all
the Zoos IN the world was on a morning
had gone out to hunt with one bearer at
dawn. had not gone far from camp,
and my gun was still unloaded. when |
was examining some buffalo spoor, while
on looking up L saw my gun-bearer, who
had my cartridges, running away at full
speed. Knowing he must have seen
something to frighten him so, 1 did not
shout, but went to where he had been
standing, few yards ahead, and there,
sure enough, not twenty yards off, were a
pair of lions; the lioness rolling on its
back and striking at the males head with
its fore paws like kitten, while he stood
majestically above her. | stopped mo
ment to watch them, and it was wei
worth it, and then rushed oil after my
Kaffre to load. The position was good
and might have killed one to a certainty
but when had succeeded in getting hin
down from the top of big tree, and wen
back. they had gone. / suppose the,