ADVICE TO THE AMATEUR LION HUNTER. 165 



Attention, and do not lose a note. 



It is a large old lion who arrived last night, and whose 

 yawns are shaking the mountains. 



"Wait a little, for he is leaving his den, and walking with 

 half shut eyes, for he is not quite awake yet, but presently he 

 will shake off his laziness and you will then hear him roar. 



All the Arabs who have heard him, will come to seek you, 

 for they well know the consequences of a visit from their master. 



If you listen to their entreaties, you will set out instantly 

 and kill the lion before he has crossed half of his dominions. 



Young and old, all come squatting around you, and listen 

 with religious awe to this voice which imposes silence on all 

 others, the voice of the strongest and boldest creature on the 

 earth. 



It is both curious and instructive to observe the Arabs. 



As soon as the lion is silent, they all commence talking at 

 once ; they hurl a thousand curses against him ; they over- 

 whelm him with the most insulting epithets ; they even go so 

 far as to menace him, if he dares to approach their tent. 



The lion roars again, and the words remain hushed on 

 their lips. Not a sound is to be lost. 



Great instruction is to be gained for you and others, from 

 this respectful silence of the Arabs. 



I have already said that the Arab was brave ; and how 

 could he help being so, born, living and dying in the midst 

 of dangers which the inhabitants of Europe can never know 

 or appreciate ? 



In his infancy, instead of moral counsels } he hears of 

 nothing but murder, wars and forays. 



