464 The Hunting Grounds 



(my servant and interpreter) and a " spahi " 

 (Arab irregular cavalry trooper), who carried my 

 spare guns, galloped to the scene of action. The 

 douar consisted of about thirty gourbis, or huts, 

 some thatched, and others made of black camel's- 

 hair cloth, forming the habitation of men, women, 

 children, cattle, and dogs of every description, from 

 the well-bred " sloghee " (Arab greyhound), to the 

 yelping, snarling cur. 



About a hundred paces from the douar several 

 vultures were busy picking what remained of the 

 carcasses of the two cows, and, on examination of the 

 ground, I found the footprints of two lions, a hyena, 

 and several jackals and dogs. 



Accompanied by the " wakeef," or head man of the 

 douar, I went to a hill, about eleven miles' distance, 

 where they said the lions had been seen to go ; but 

 after a long search found no pugs, so I returned once 

 more to the douar. Here I got a drink of sour milk, 

 and again examined the ground where the cattle had 

 been killed. After some little difficulty, I got upon 

 the trail of the two lions (which was in places 

 partially obliterated by the footprints of men and 

 cattle), and followed it up hill and down dale for 

 some eight miles, when, in a deep and densely-wooded 

 ravine, I found the lair. Had I been alone I might, 

 perhaps, have got a shot, for the place where they 

 had been sleeping after their feast was warm with 



