352 MAMMALIA. 



injury, and shoot him clown at their leisure from the border of 

 the pit, at the bottom of which he crouches in mournful silence, 

 and with a calmness full of dignitj^. 



The Arabs often excavate this cavity in the interior of the 

 douar (a collection of tents) ; the locality allows them to dispense 

 with the ingenious contrivance for concealment, and still further 

 assures the success of the artifice. When the nocturnal marauder 

 clears the hedge that surrounds the village, he tumbles into 

 this gaping hole, to remain a prisoner till his captives choose 

 to slay him. His imprisonment is announced to the neighbour- 

 ing villages with frantic cheers and rejoicings of every descrip- 

 tion. Men, w^omen, and children all rush to contemplate the 

 unfortunate brute, and shower upon it derisive epithets, and 

 volleys of stones. 



Destroying it by concealment in underground places, or on 

 a tree, is tolerably free from danger. In the first method, three or 

 or four men hide themselves in a hole about three feet deep 

 on the margin of a path frequented by their pre}'. The roof is 

 covered with heavy stones and earth ; narrow openings are made 

 in the sides, in order to see what may be passing without, and on 

 which to rest their fire-arms ; lastly, a lure is placed in front of 

 this sanctuary to induce the Lion to stop, which if he does a 

 voUejr of bullets is his welcome. It is rare that he falls dead 

 immediately, but springs towards the ambush, hoping to find the 

 foe ; but the construction is too strong to permit him to enter, 

 and he staggers off, probably to die in his den. 



At other times, the himters conceal themselves in a tree, to 

 which they even add more branches to make a more secure 

 hiding-place. From this post they operate in precisely the same 

 manner as in the subterranean plan. 



These two methods are those principally in vogue among the 

 Arabs. 



But the caution of the Lion often defeats these artifices ; so that 

 he can only be destroyed by attacking him when opportunity 

 offers. A number of horsemen, accompanied by vigorous Dogs, 

 meet together and scour the woods to which he resorts, and by 

 difierent means force him out on the plain. If the animal shows 

 fight under these conditions he is lost. The hunters successively 

 ply him with bullets, or fly at speed out of his reach; when, 



