LION HUNTING 473 



and reloads again, to prepare for a new onset. The lion at- 

 tacked on all sides and covered with wounds, fronts everywhere 

 the enemy, springs forward, retreats, returns, and only falls after 

 a glorious resistance, which must necessarily end in his defeat 

 and death, as he is no match for a troop of well-mounted 

 Arabs. After he has spent his power on a few monstrous 

 springs, even an ordinary horse easily overtakes him. One 

 must have been the witness of such a fight, says Dumas, to form 

 an idea of its liveliness. Every rider utters loud imprecations, 

 the white mantles that give so spectral an appearance to their 

 dusky owners, fly in the air like " streamers long and gay," the 

 carbines glisten, the shots resound, the lion roars ; pursuit 

 and flight alternate in rapid succession. Yet in spite of the 

 tumult, accidents are rare, and the horsemen have generally 

 nothing to fear but a fall from their steed, which might bring 

 til em under the claws of their enemy, or, what is oftener the 

 case, the ball of an incautious comrade. 



The Arabs have noticed that the day after the lion has carried 

 away a piece of cattle, he generally remains in a state of 

 drowsy inactivity, incapable of moving from his lair. When 

 the neighbourhood, which usually resounds with his evening 

 roar, remains quiet, there is every reason to believe that the 

 animal is gorged with his gluttonous repast. Then some 

 huntsman, more courageous than his comrades, follows his 

 trail into the thicket, levels his gun at the lethargic monster, 

 and sends a ball into his head. Sometimes even, a hunter, 

 relying on the deadly certainty of his aim, and desirous of 

 acquiring fame by a display of chivalrous courage, rides forth 

 alone into the thicket, on a moonlight night, challenges the 

 lion with repeated shouts and imprecations, and lays him 

 prostrate before he can make his fatal bound. 



Dr. Livingstone informs us that the Bushmen likewise avail 

 themselves of the torpidity consequent upon a full meal, to 

 surprise the lion in his slumbers: but their mode of attack is 

 very different from that which I have described as practised by 

 the fiery Arabs of Northern Africa. One discharges a poisoned 

 arrow from the distance of only a few feet, while his companion 

 simultaneously throws his skin-cloak over the beast's head. The 

 sudden surprise makes him lose his presence of mind, and he 

 bounds away in the greatest confusion and terror. The poison 



