ARAB FASHION OF HUNTING THE LION. 61 



dies of his wounds, or is finished by a death shot from a 

 pistol fired in his ear. 



The animal at length being dead they turn their attention 

 to the hunters who are lying under and about him. When 

 gathered together and examined, they are found to number 

 two dead and four injured, of whom two are mortally 

 wounded. 



We would regard such a day's adventure as very sad, and 

 would have our attention more occupied with the dead and 

 wounded, than with the lion, but here it is just the contrary. 

 With the exception of the near relatives of the victims, no 

 one notices them ; but the lion — the lion is centre of every 

 attention and admiration. 



After having carried the wounded aside, and set the dead 

 bodies against some neighboring clump of trees, a ghastly 

 group, one or two men are dispatched to the nearest 

 encampment to bring mules to transport them ; then drawing 

 their knives they all fall to upon the lion, and commence 

 skinning and quartering him, all talking at once in their 

 loudest tones, and recounting over and over the varied 

 adventures of the day. 



After this operation is completed, and the mules have 

 arrived from the douar, the hunters form in order, and the 

 caravan winds down the mountain to the plain. First 

 marches the man who has given the coup de grace to the 

 lion, covered with his skin. Then follows a mule bearing 

 astride his back two of the wounded men. Then another 

 mule with another of the wounded men, and holding in front 

 of him on the mule one of the corpses astride in the same 



