December backs in order to difcharge his piece, but has miffed his mark, have, in their'eagernefs for the chafe, not allowed him time fufficient to mount again, but followed the game‘alone for hours together, clofe at its very heels, in all its turnings and windings. The chafe o f the IiOn on horfeback is, in fa£t, carried on in the fame manner as that of thè elephant, which I have already deferibed in Vol. If p. 315; hut as various particulars, hitherto unknown, concerning the lion’s difpofition, may be learned from it, a defcription of it here will, perhaps, not be fuperfiuous ; ' and, in cafe I fhould be too minute and circumftantial, I lhall hope for the indulgence o f the candid reader ; particularly of fuch of them as are fportfmen, and are confcioüs with what high glee and fatisfaftion they are wont to defcribe, with the utmoft minutenefs and prolixity, every turning and winding of a poor timid hare. It is only on the plains, that the hunters venture to go out on horfeback after the lion. I f it keeps in fome coppice, or wood, on a rifing ground, they endeavour to teaze it with dogs till it comes out ; they likéwiiè prefer going together two or more in number, in order to be able to affift and refcue each other, in cafe the firit ihot ihould not take place. ' When the lion fees the hunters at a great diftance, it is univerfally allowed, that he takes to his heéìs as fait as ever he can, in order to get out o f their fight y but i f they chance to difcover him at a fmall diftance from them, he is then laid to walk off in a furly manner, but without putting himfelf in the leaft hurry,- as though he was above fhew- ing any fear, when he finds himfelf difcoveréd or hünted. He He is therefore reported like wife, when he finds himfelf purfued with vigour, to be fooh provoked to refiftance, or at leaft he difdains any longer to fly. Confequently he flackens his pace, and at length only fidles flowly off ftep by ftep, all the while .eying his phrfuers afkaunt; and finally makes a full flop, and turning round upon them, and at the fame time giving himfelf a ihake, roars with a fliort and iharp tone, in. order to ihew his indignation, being ready to feize on them and tear them in pieces. This is now precifelyr the time for the hunters to be upon the fpot, of elfe to get as ibon as poflible within a certain diftance o f him, yet fo as at the fame time to keep at a proper diftance from each other ; and he that is neareft, or is moft advan- tageoufly.pofted, and has the beft mark o f that part o f the lion’s body: which contains his heart and lungs; muft be the firit to jump off his horfe, and, fecuring the bridle by putting it round his arm, difcharge his piece; then in an. inftant recovering his feat, muft ride obliquely athwart his companions; and, in fine, giving his‘horfe the reins, muft truft entirely to the fpeed and fear o f this latter, to convey him out of the reach of the fury of the wild beaft, in cafe he has only wounded him, or has abfolutely miffed him. In; either of thefe cafes, a fair opportunity prefents itfelf for fome o f the other hunters to jump off their horfes diredtly, as they may then take their aim and difcharge their pieces with greater . coolnefs and certainty. Should this ihot likewife mifs, (which, however,, feldom happens,) the third fportfman rides after the lion,, which at that inftant is in purfuit of the firft or the fecond, and, fpringing off his horfe, fires his piece, as foon as he has got within a proper diftance, and finds a I a fuffici
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