64 THE LION KILLER. 



of a race of men well worthy of admiration and sympa- 

 thy. 



The tribe of the Chegatmas is a small branch of a people 

 coming originally from Tunis, that followed the army of the 

 Bey of Tunis when he came to lay seige to Constantine, and 

 they established themselves on Mount Hamama in the 

 country of the Haractah, When they are called to arms at 

 the summons of their sheik, they bring to the field a hundred 

 guns ; and they are accustomed to hunt in the mountains of 

 Hamama, Bou-Tokrema and Tafrent. 



The details of the hunt up to the time of the attack, are 

 the same as those of the Ouled Cessi and the Ouled Meloul. 



The trackers build a fire at some gathering point, which 

 serves as a signal for the tribe. When the animal is marked 

 down, and his retreat carefully examined, the hunters noise- 

 lessly surround it, and climb up into the pines and oaks 

 which grow in profusion on the hills. 



When every one has taken his position they commence to 

 shout from every side, and if this has no effect, they fire 

 several balls into the cover. 



The lion, accustomed to do battle with men, and not with 

 squirrels, when he hears their cries and smells the powder, 

 marches out of his retreat, and directs his steps with a wary 

 tread, in a direction which he thinks will lead him to some 

 one of his scattered enemies. His great eyes wander from 

 rock to rock ; his ears move forward and back with a watch- 

 ful motion ; and his tail is held stiff and rigid, as he advances, 

 ever and anon pausing to catch the wind or sound of his 

 foes. 



