MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN LION HUNTING. 205 



With the assistance of several hands under the direction 

 of an Arab who understood the system, I caused a covered 

 blind to be made by the side of one of the paths used by the 

 lion. , 



This was a hole in the ground of about a yard in depth, 

 and breadth, covered with large trees for a roof, and loaded 

 with the earth that was taken out from below, and with large 

 stones. Several loopholes were made on the side towards 

 the path, also a larger hole on the opposite side for a place 

 of entrance. A great stone brought expressly for the pur- 

 pose from a long distance, served as a door, and was so placed 

 as to be able to be pulled shut from within. 



The blind thus constructed was a perfect citadel, which I 

 would readily have made in a simpler manner, had not the 

 Arab who served as architect assured me that he would not 

 be willing to pass the night there alone, and that the lion 

 could readily draw me out of my retreat, by tearing a hole in 

 the top if he should take a fancy so to do. 



As I appeared to attach small consequence to this asser- 

 tion, he related the following anecdote. 



" The Pacha of Algiers had selected among the Turks of 

 his army, some of the bravest to hunt the lion. One of them, 

 Chackar by name, acquired a great reputation in that 

 country. Every time that he returned crowned with success, 

 and bearing as a trophy the skin of the beast slain in fight, 

 the Pacha made him sit down by his side, an honor that he 

 conferred on no other person, and besides the gold that he 

 showered upon him at every victory, he gave to him a mantle 

 of velvet, all embossed with silk and gold, called a caftan, 



