140 KATHIAWAR LION SIR GEORGE CLARKE 



This moving is a curious process. 



A " kill " is watched, and when the gorged lion 

 has eaten and drunk his fill his lying-up place is 

 located and sufficient time is allowed to elapse to 

 ensure his going off into a sound sleep. 



In due course a number of men very silently 

 creep as near as they dare to the lion's sleeping 

 chamber, which they almost surround, leaving 

 unguarded the line of retreat which it is considered 

 the lion will probably take. 



At a signal from the head shikari all the men give 

 utterance in unison to an ear-splitting, demoniac 

 yell which wakes up the lion under conditions 

 calculated to make him about as ill-tempered as a 

 retired Colonel of the old school with a severe 

 attack of gout. 



The men are careful not to show themselves, 

 and are especially careful not to make the slightest 

 noise. The head shikari allows about a minute 

 to elapse and then gives the signal for yell number 

 two. 



The plan has never been known to fail. The 

 lion thinks the whole performance uncanny and 

 trots off or bounds away according to his tempera- 

 ment in the direction whence no sound has reached 

 him, and if all goes well passes the spot where the 

 sportsman has been posted sometimes in a tree, 

 sometimes behind one. 



In this instance my post was beside a rock about 

 the size and shape of a grand piano. But on 

 this occasion no lion passed me. On the i8th 

 and igth, there being no news of lions, we stood 

 at ease ease which I very greatly needed. We 

 were cheered by a visit from Mrs. Robertson, to 



