TERRIFIC COMBAT BETWEEN A LION AND A GORILLA.
Being a naturalist I roved much in all lands, and one day roaming, bent in thought, amongst the rankly luxuriant glades of Gorilla laud, I was considerably alarmed by hearing a low stifled roar, which seemed to fill the very air with terror, as also a succession of heavy thumps accompanied by roars differing iu note from the other. Fascinated as the bird is by the rattlesnake, I was irresistibly impelled towards the spot whence the awful sounds proceeded. Judge of my wonder and horror, when I beheld a huge lion with his ears drawn back, and his mane and tail erect, advancing, roaring, on one side, and a gigantic gorilla also advancing, and roaring and beating his breast on the other. They paused within ten paces of each other and an awful lull ensued, like the agitating moments between the flash of lightning and clap of thunder; when, after seemingly measuring each other's strength for awhile, they (lew into a frantic embrace. The gorilla, more afraid of the lion's jaws than his claws, was holding him back by the throat, and dealing him the most fearful blows in his ribs, whilst enduring the shocking ravages from his adversary's claws. Presently, to my intense horror' the war rolled on directly towards mo. I staggered feebly backwards, only, alas! (how shall I relate it ?) to fall into a pit and start a huge boa constrictor into life, while the cold perspiration streamed from every pore in my skin. I pantingly contemplated my terrible companion, when, horror of horrors ! down came the lion and gorilla on top of us. With frantic exertion I rolled over and tumbled down to a lower part of the pit, drawing the folds of the boa constrictor with me, when—oh, relief of reliefs ! I heard my wife's voice saying, " Prank, you great stupid, what is the use of pulling all the bedclothes off me, and rolling on the floor in that insane manner ?" Good reader, my baker was a villian, and I dreamt.
Wanted to Know. —Is a b; ker's son i ot bred to the business ?
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18740501.2.27
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1172, 1 May 1874, Page 4
Word count
Tapeke kupu
358TERRIFIC COMBAT BETWEEN A LION AND A GORILLA. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1172, 1 May 1874, Page 4
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.