702 



THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



after the first shake of the cat. It caused a sort of drowsiness in which there was no 

 sense of pain nor feeling of terror, though quite conscious of all that was happening. 

 It was like what patients partially under the influence of chloroform describe, who see 

 all the operation, but feel not the knife. This singular condition was not the result 

 of any mental process ; the shake annihilated fear, and allowed no sense of horror in 

 looking round at the beast. This peculiar state is probably produced in all animals 

 killed by the carnivora ; and if so, is a merciful provision by our benevolent Creator 

 for lessening the pain of death. Turning round to relieve myself of the weight, as he 

 had one paw on the back of my head, I saw his eyes directed to Mebalwe, who was 

 trying to shoot him at a distance of ten or fifteen yards. His gun, a flint one, missed 

 fire in both barrels; the lion immediately left me, and attacking Mebalw^, bit his 

 thigh. Another man attempted to spear the lion while he was biting Mebalwe. He 

 left Mebalwe and caught this man by the shoulder ; but at that moment the bullets he 

 had received took effect, and he fell down dead. The whole was the work of a few 

 moments, and must have been his paroxysm of dying rage. A wound from this 

 animal's tooth resembles a gun-shot wound ; it is generally followed by a great deal 

 of sloughing and discharge, and pains are felt in the part periodically ever afterwards. 

 I had on a tartan jacket on the occasion, and I believe that it wiped off" all the virus 

 from the teeth that pierced the flesh, for my two companions in this affray have both 

 suffered from the peculiar pains, while I have escaped with only the inconvenience of a 

 false joint in my limb. The man whose shoulder was wounded showed me his wound 

 actually burst forth afresh on the same month of the following year." 



In the Atlas, the lion is hunted in various ways. When he prowls about the 

 neighborhood of a Bedouin encampment, his presence is announced by various signs. 

 At night his dreadful roar resounds ; now an ox, now a foal is missing from the herd ; 

 at length even a member of the tribe disappears. Terror spreads among all the tents, 

 the women tremble for their children, everywhere complaints are heard. The warriors 

 decree the death of the obnoxious neighbor, and congregate on horse and on foot at 

 the appointed hour and place. The thicket in which the lion conceals himself during 

 the day-time has already been discovered, and the troop advances, the horsemen bring- 

 ing up the rear. About fifty paces from the bush they halt, and draw up in three 

 rows, the second ready to assist the first in case of need, the third an invincible reserve 

 of excellent marksmen. Then commences a strange and animated scene. The first 

 row abusing the lion, and at the same time sending a few balls into his covert to 

 induce him to come out, utters loud exclamations of defiance. " Where is he who 

 fancies himself so brave, and ventures not to show himself before men ? Surely it is 

 not the lion, but a cowardly thief, a son of Scheitan, on whom may Allah's curse rest!" 



At length, the roused lion breaks forth. A momentary silence ensues. ' The lion 

 roars, rolls flaming eyes, retreats a few paces, stretches himself upon the ground, rises, 

 smashes the branches with his tail. The front row gives fire, the lion springs forward, 

 if untouched, and generally falls under the balls of the second row, which immediately 

 advances towards him. This moment, so critical for the lion, whose fury is fully ex- 

 cited, does not end the combat till he is hit in the head or in the heart. Often his 

 hide has been pierced by a dozen balls before the mortal wound is given, so that 

 sometimes in case of a prolonged contest several of the hunters are either killed or 

 wounded. The horsemen remain as passive spectators of the fray so long as the lion 



