14 THE LION. 



proached the Douar* which they propose despoiling, 

 and when their appetites are satisfied they recom- 

 mence roaring and continue until daylight. 



" The lion, when alone, also roars on leaving his 

 den, and it often happens that he continues doing 

 so until he reaches the Douar. 



" In the Summer, during the great heats, the 

 lion roars less, and sometimes not at all ; but in the 

 pairing season he makes ample amends for lost time." 



''When the lion roars" says General Dumas, 

 "people pretend one rnay readily distinguish the 

 following words : * Ahna on bai el inerct, ' that is 

 ' I and the son of the woman.' Moreover, that lie 

 repeats twice ' len cl mcraj but 'Ahna' onty once, 

 from which they conclude he dares not recognise 

 any other creature than man besides himself." 



The natives of parts of South Africa, it is to bo 

 remarked, assert they can readily distinguish be- 

 tween the roar of a hungry lion, or one intent on 

 mischief, and that of a lion whose appetite is al- 

 ready appeased. When the beast is hungry, his 

 roar, they say, is dull and stifled ; but when, on the 

 contrary, his belly is full, it is rather loud. 



Moffatt testifies to the like dfect. " As we were 

 retiring to rest one night " writes the Missionary, 



* Arab village, or rather encampment, as there, nomad people arc 

 constantly on the move from one locality to the oilier, in accordance 

 with the season of the year, and the state of the pasturage, itc. 

 The "Douar" usually consists of from ten to fifteen tents pitched 

 in a circular form; and in the Winter time, at least, is commonly 

 situated on the western slope of a hill the whole being surrounded 

 by a, high and strong fence with a single opening for the people 

 and cattle. 



