Decern her ffeS ^)I‘ute creation ihould have been taught merely by nature .✓ ry to be in dread o f the lion; for our horfes and oxen were all from places, where I am certain they could have no knowledge o f this dreadful adverfary o f theirs : io that in this we mull admire the bounty o f providence, which, while it has fent fuch a tyrant as the lion atnongft the animal creation, has likewife taught them to difcern and diftinguiih it with trembling and horror. One would fuppofe, that the roaring o f the lion would prove ferviceable to the other animals, as being a warning for them to betake themfelves to flight; but as when he roars, according to all report, he puts his mouth to the ground, fo that the found is diffufed equally all over the place, without, as we have already mentioned, its being pofiible to hear from what quarter it comes, the animals are intimidated and feared to fuch a degree, as to fly about backwards and forwards in the dark to every fide; in con- fequence of which, ibme o f them may eafily chance to run on to the very fpot from whence the tremendous found a&ually proceeds, and which they meant moil to avoid. A writer, in other refpeits extremely rational, who ftyles himfelf Officier du Roit afferts, in his Voyage a I'lfie ' de France, 8cc. p. 63, that in Africa there are found whole armies o f lions; a fail of which, he fays, he was informed, by three perfons of confequence in the government, whofe names he mentions. This author,»as well as his informers, and thofe, i f fuch there be, who have given any credit to him, may be eafily made to conceive the palpable abiurdity of the idea by this fingle confideration, that to fupport armies o f lions, - ,i> > it it would require a greater quantity o f quadrupeds and Dc'c7e7m^er. game, as it is called, than is to be found not only in Afri- ca, but in all the world befides. In order to confirm this aflertion, we may appeal to a witty obfervation made by the Indians, and reported by L a f i t a u . “ It is a very fortunate circumftance, faid they, that the Portuguefe are as few in number as they are cruel in their difpofitions; juil as it is with the tigers and lions with refpedl to the reft of the animal creation, or otherwife there would foon be ail end of us men.” With regard to the teftimonies o f the perfons o f confequence here appealed to, I muft beg leave to obferve, that we may at any time, without the leaft hefitation, call in queftion any pofition which militates againft common fenfe. Be- fides, in the Eaft-Indies, knowledge and the appearance of truth are not always abfolutely infeparable from authority. \ myfelf have heard a man belonging to the council at the Cape, relate to itrangers the moft ridiculous abfurdities concerning the country in which he lived. Stories o f this kind often orignate from the farmers and yeomen, who come from a great diftance, and who often find their account in amufing their rulers with pleaftng tales; which, the more wonderful they are, with the greater avidity they are fwal- lowed. Another fource of thefe falfe reports is in the depraved difpofitioii o f mankind, who are very prone to im- pofe as much as they can oil the credulity o f the weak and fimple. Admitting it to be true, that the Romarts introduced into their public fpeitacles a great number of lions, which, indeed, they might eafily colledl from the extenfive traits o f country they poflefled in Africa and G 2 Afia, r
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