472 THE FELID^ OF THE OLD AYORLD 



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 child- 

 ren, 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 marks- 

 men. 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, utters loud ex- 

 clamations 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 cow^ardly thief, a son of Scheitan, on 

 whom may Allah's curse rest ! " 



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

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

 stretches himself upon the ground, rises, smashes the branches 

 with his tail. The front row gives fire, the lion springs forward, 

 if untouched, and generally falls under the balls of the second 

 row, which immediately advances towards him. This moment, so 

 critical for the lion whose fury is fully excited, does not end the 

 combat till he is hit in the head or in the heart. Often his hide 

 has been pierced by a dozen balls before the mortal wound is 

 given, so that sometimes in case of a prolonged contest several 

 of the hunters are either killed or wounded. The horsemen 

 remain as passive spectators of the fray so long as the lion keeps 

 upon hilly ground, but when driven into the plain, their part 

 begins, and a new combat of a no less original and dramatic 

 character commences ; as every rider, according to his zeal or 

 courage, spurs his horse upon the monster, fires upon him at a 

 short distance, then rapidly wheels as soon as the shot is made, 



