The Leopard has been much admired throughout the ages, here is a text from 1790 describing the leopard ...
Length from nose to tail four feet; the tail two and a half.
Inhabits Senegal and Guinea; spares neither man nor beast: when beasts of chase fail, descends from the internal parts of Africa in crowds, and makes a great havoc among the herds that cover the rich meadows of the Lower Guinea (now known as Equatorial Africa - Zaire).
It tears its prey to pieces with both claws and teeth; is always thin, though perpetually devouring. The panther is its enemy, and destroys numbers of them.
the negroes take these animals in pit-falls, covered at the top with flight hurdles, on which is placed some flesh as bait: they make a banquet of the flesh; the negresses make collars of their teeth. The skins are often brought to Europe, and reckoned very valuable.
in Asia it is found in the mountains of Caucasus, from Persia to India; and also in China. It inhabits also Arabia, where it is called Nemr. It is asserted that in that country, as well as in Egypt, it will do no harm to man unless provoked; but will enter houses by night and destroy the cats.