strength and cunning as they lie in ambush near some path which they know to be frequented by cattle and when they see any they give a great bound or spring at them which knocks them quite over when he devours them at his <leasure> {leisure} if the lion fails in {the length of} his leap and the object of it escapes he tries it over and over again till he attains perfection.
As an instance that the lion does not attack unless he requires <it for> food (he attacks however when he does not need food for revenge) I may mention this incident: A gentleman in Africa going out to hunt alone on his way home came upon a large flat rock <he saw> purposed to sleep there accordingly lay down: when he awoke he saw a large lion sitting at his feet he {he raised himself up a little and} attempted to reach his gun which was beside his legs upon this the lion uttered savage growls and advanced a few paces he continued in this manner for two days all this time the gentleman was <sufering> {suffering} intense pain on account of the heat reflected from the rock till on the second day the lion seeing some deer in the distance left <the> him and went after them, by this time his feet were so scorched by the sun that he could not walk but crept along on his knees till some of the <servents> {servants} coming to seek for him found him and conveyed him home.
I could say much more about the lion but I find I have {not much} room left so I think I will stop here.
26 April 1860
George Dawson as a Child, date unknown.
Dawsons Parents, Margaret and J.W Dawson, March 19,1847 & 1897.
The Dawson Sons (from left): Rankine, George, and William Bell.
Anna Lois Dawson, 1871.
At the Dawson Summer Home, Métis , Québec. (from left): Bernard Harrington, George Dawson, Bernard Hanington (son), J. W Dawson, Anna Harrington, Ruth Harrington, Clare Harrington, Lois Harrington, Eva Harrington, Margaret Dawson, Conrad Harrington.
15 Dawson’s assertions about the Nile are correct in that, though the British explorer John H. Speke had been the first European to discover Lake Victoria in 1858 and the outlet of what he conjectured to be the White Nile four years later, the Nile’s source remained in doubt until 1875-76 when Charles Gordon followed the river to the lake.
16Probably muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (L.).
A BOYHOOD DIARY
The following entries were taken from one of George’s boyhood diaries written in 1861 at age twelve, when the Dawson family lived on the McGill campus in downtown Montreal. The diary for the most part refers to his studies and his governess whom he is pleased to call “Miss.” There are also a number of references to his health and the simple pastimes that boys engaged in before the advent of television!
March 1st. 1861
Miss came today and we got on very well with lessons. After lessons we went out and had a battle with the students after dinner we went into the Baynses17 and had some fine fun we played at Jacks alive and several other games <George gave me>
March 2nd. 1861
This morning after breakfast I went to town and bought 38 marbles and went out a little to play, after dinner I took Rankine18 out and had a game of marbles with Ohara,19 this eavening I feel very tired and uncomfortable.
March 3rd. 1861.
Did not go to church this morning it was so sloppy red a story in Sherwoods20 before dinner: after dinner I took rankine out for a walk wrote some of my bible index and red a little. William Ross came up and took tea with us tonight. It is sloppy thawing weather.
March 4th. 1861.
Miss came this forenoon. I read a good deal before dinner. After dinner I went down town and bought several things when I came home my feet were very wet. A lady and gentleman took tea with us tonight.
March 5th. 1861.
Got on very well with lessons today before dinner I went out to play a little after dinner we were playing marbles after that Rankine came out with us we went down to the garden and swang and did several other things Grandpapa dug the first of the parsnips today.
March 6th. 1861
Miss came today and we got on very well with lessons. It was <very> cold today <We> I snoeshoed a little and sailed my boats we then played tag round the College Ohara came in today and they played old man. I had a <very> bad headache so I did not play but went to bed early.
March 7th. 1861.
Got on very well with my lessons today after lessons I red a little, after dinner we went out but it was so cold we were always running in to warm ourselves <I>After that I went into Baynses and spent a very happy eavening after I came in I learnt my lessons.
March
