I 



DR. LIVIXGSTOXE's ESCAPE. 451 



he was bi^ng Mebalwe. He left". Mebalwe, and caught this man 

 by the shoulder, but at that moment the bullets he had 

 received took effect and he fell down dead. The whole was 

 the work of a few moments, and must have been his paroxysm 

 of dying rage. A wound from- this animal's tooth resembles a 

 gim-shot wound ; it is generally followed by a great deal of 

 sloughing and discharge, and pains are felt in the part 

 periodically ever afterwards. I had on a tartan jacket on the 

 occasion, and I believe that it wip^ed off all the virus from the 

 teeth that pierced the flesh, for my two companions in this 

 affray have both suffered from the peculiar pains, while I have 

 escaped with only the inconvenience of a false joint in my 

 limb. The man whose shoulder was wounded showed me his 

 wound actually burst forth afresh on the same month of the 

 following year. This curious point deserves the attention of 

 inquirers.' 



In the Atlas, the lion is hunted in various ways. When he 

 prowls about the neighbourhood of a Bedouin encampment, his 

 presence is announced by various signs : at night, his 

 dreadful roar resounds ; now an ox, now a foal is missing from 

 the herd ; at length even a member of the tribe disappears. 

 Terror spreads among all the tents, the women tremble for 

 their children, everywhere complaints are heard. The warriors 

 decree the death of the obnoxious neighbour, and congregate 

 on horse and on foot at the appointed hour and place. The 

 thicket in which the lion conceals himself during the daytime 

 has already been discovered, and the troop advances, the 

 horsemen bringing up the rear. About fifty paces from the 

 bush they halt, and draw up in three rows, the second ready to 

 assist the first in case of need, the third an invincible reserve 

 of excellent marksmen. Then commences a strange and 

 animated scene. The first row abusing the lion, and at the 

 same time sending a few balls into his covert to induce him to 

 come out, utter loud exclamations of defiance : ' Where is he 

 who fancies himself so brave, and ventures not to show himself 

 before men ? Surely it is not the lion, but a cowardly thief, a 

 son of Scheitan, on whom Allah's curse may rest ! ' 



At length, the roused lion breaks forth. A momentary silence 

 ensues. The lion roars, rolls his flaming eyes, retreats a few paces, 

 stretches himself upon the ground, rises, smashes the branches 



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