MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN LION HUNTING. 247 



lier, he wears a species of red morocco boot, called the- 

 maques. 



When an Arab is preparing for some expedition of danger, 

 where he may be called on to fight on foot, he commences by 

 taking off his sandals, if he has any. Then he lays aside his 

 burnous which might be in the way, his camePs hair cord, 

 by which he might get strangled, and his haik which might 

 get torn. He only retains a red cap to protect his head, and 

 a shirt which he raises above his knee, by means of a leathern 

 girdle at his waist. Nothing is left that can in the least 

 interfere with the activity of the body, except the loose sleeves 

 that are drawn up to the shoulder, and then fastened behind 

 the back. 



Add to this a cartridge-box on one side, a yataghan on the 

 other, one or two pistols behind the back, and a gun six feet 

 in length in the hand, and then you have the complete war 

 costume of the country. 



There is another pretty of much the same kind, with the 

 exception of the arms, and it marks the professional robber 

 who roams abroad either alone or in company. These fellows, 

 in order to have a respectable and inoffensive appearance, 

 leave their guns behind them, and fasten around their bodies 

 under their shirt, a complete armament, the more dangerous 

 for being invisible. 



It was with a dozen of these bandit-looking fellows, whom 

 I first described, that I made my first call upon the lion at his 

 own residence. I had expected rocks and caverns of a savage 

 and gloomy appearance, but I found nothing but a beautiful 

 wood. 



While examining this spot, known all through the country 

 as the Lion's Garden, I could easily understand how it had 

 been chosen by its royal occupant. It was a beautiful thicket 

 of wild olive trees, so closely joined together that they all 

 seemed to have grown from one root. The dark tint of their 

 leavbs contrasted strongly with the prevailing green of the 



