The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-08 00:00:00

WILD SPORTS IN ALGERIA.

Al. Jules Gerard, the well-known lion killer of
Algeria, has just sent the following account of a re-
cent exploit to the editor of the Journal des
Chasseurs

"1 knew of a large old lion in the Smauls country
and betook myself in that direction. On arriving I
heard that he was in the Boneriff, near Batnah. My
tent was not yet pitched at the foot of the mountain
when I learned that he was at the Fed-Jong, where,
on my arrival, I found he had gained the Aures.
After travelling 100 leagues in 10 days in the track
of my brute without catching a glimpse of anything
but his foot-prints, I was gratified on the night of
the 22d of August with the sound of my lord's voice.
hcd established my tent in the valley of Ousten. As
there is only one path across this thickly covered
valley I found it an easy task to discover' his track
and follow it to his lair. At 6 o'clock in the evening
I alighted upon a hillock commanding a prospect of
the country around. I was accompanied by a native
of the country and my spahi, one carrying my car-
bine, the other my old gun. As I had anticipated,
the lion roared under cover at dawn of day; but in-
stead of advancing towards me, he started off in a
westerly direction at such a pace that it was
impossible for me to come up with him. I
retraced my steps at midnight, and took up my
quarters at the foot of a tree upon the path
which the lion had taken. The country about this
spot was cleared and cultivated. The noon being fa-
vourable, the approach of anything could be descried
in every direction. I installed myself and waited.
Weary after a ride of several hours over a very irre-
gular country, and not expecting any chance that
night, I enjoined my spahi to keep a good watch, and
lay down. I was just about to fall asleep when I
felt a gentle pull at my burnous. On getting up I
was able to make out two lione, sitting one beside the
other, about 100 paces off, and exactly on the path
in which I had taken up my position. At first I
thought we had been perceived, and prepared to make
the best of this discovery. The moon shed a light
upon the entire ground which the lions would have to
cross, in order to reach the tree, close to which all
within a circumference of ten paces was completely
dark, both on account of the thickness of the tree and
the shadow cast by the foliage. My spahi, like me,
was in range of the shadow, while the Arab lay snor-
ing ten paces off in the full light of the moon. There
was no doubting the fact—it was this man who at-
tracted the attention of the lions. I expressly for-
bade the spahi to wake up the Arab, as I was
persuaded that when the action was over he would
be proud of having served as a bait even without
knowing it. I then prepared my arms and placed
them against the tree and got up, in order the better
to observe the movements of the enemy. They were
not less than half-an- hour traversing a distance of
100 metres. Although the ground was open, I could
only see them when they raised their heads to make
sure that the Arab was still there. They took ad-
vantage of every stone, and every tuft of grass to
render themselves almost invisible; at last the boldest
of them came up crouching on his belly to within 10
paces of me, and 15 of the Arab. His eye was fixed
on the latter, and with such an expression that I was
afraid I had waited too long. The second, who had
stayed a few paces behind, came and placed himself
on a level with and about four or five paces from the
first. I then saw for the first time that they weke
both full grown lionesses. I took aim at the first, and
she came rolling and roaring down to the foot of
the tree. The Arab was scarcely awakened when
a second ball stretched the animal dead upon the
spot. The first bullet went in lat the muzzle
and came out at the tail; the second had gone
through the heart. After making sure that my men
were all right, I looked out for the second lioness.
She was standing up within 15 paces, looking at
what was going on around her. I took my gun
and levelled it at her. She squatted down. When
I fired she fell down roaring, and disappeared in a
field of maize on the edge of the road. On approach-
ing I found by her moaning that she was still alive,
and did not venture at night into the thick plantation
which sheltered
.her. As soon as it was day I went
to the spot where she had fallen, and all I found
were blood marks marking her track in the direc-
tion of the wood. After sending the dead lioness to
the neighbouring garrison, who celebrated its arrival
by a banquet, I returned to my post of the previous
night. A little after sunset the lion roared for the
first-time, but instead of quitting his lair he remained
there all night roaring like a madman. Convinced
that the wounded lioness was there, I sent on the
morning of the 24th two Arabs to explore the cover.
They returned without daring to approach it. On
the night cf the 24th there was the same roaring and
complaining of the lion on the mountain and under
cover. On the 25th, at five in the evening, I
had a young goat muzzled, and proceeded with
it to the mountain. The lair was exceed-
ingly difficult of access. Nevertheless I stic-
ceeded at last by crawling now on my hands aid
now on my belly in teaching it. Having disco-
vered certain indications of the presence of the intria-
bitants of this locality, I bad the goat unmuzzled aid
tied to a tree. Then followed the most comical pa is
on the part of the Arabs who were carrying 111 y
arms. Seeing themselves in the middle of the lioy's
lair, whom they could distinctly smell, and hearing
the hortified goat calling them with all its might, Was
, a position perfectly intolerable to them. After On-
suiting together as to whether it were better to climb
up a tree or clamber on a rock, they asked my per-
mission to remain near the goat. This confidence
pleased me, and obtained them the privilege of a place
by my side. I had not been there a quarter of
hour when the lioness appeared; she found herself
suddenly beside the goat, and looked about her with
an air of astonishment. I fired, and she fell without
a struggle. The Arabs were already kissing my
hands, and I myself believed her dead, when she got
up again as though nothing was the matter, and
showed us all her teeth. One of the Arilts who had
run towards her was within six paces of her. On
seeing her get up he clung to the lower branches of
the tree to which the goat was tied and disappeared
like a squirrel. The lioness fell dead at the foot of
the tree, a second bullet piercing her heart. The first
had passed out of the nape of the neck without break-
ing the skull bone."

INSIGNIA OF MATORALTY.—The town council a
Nottingham have determined upon having their mayor duly
arrayed at the entertainment to be given to Prince Albert
by the mayors of England at York in the course of the pre-,
sent month. They were invited to consider, aye or no,
whether the chief magistrate should appear in the robes 'of
office. Whereupon Mr. Alderman Cullen- said :—" He bad
long been of opinion that some distinctive dress ought to be
attached to the mayor of the ancient borough of Notting-
ham, by which he would be known to be such. He himself
had often observed, when the judges were met by the mayor
'and magistrates, that they had been at a loss to know who
was the mayor. If they were to judge from the privileges
- - which had at various times been conferred upon it, they
The Metropolitan Local Commissioners represent- would arrive at the conclusion that the ancient town of Not-
tingham stood very high in the consideration of the rulers
ng machinery for direct use, had an interview, at
eleven o'clock yesterday morning; in the new Palace of the country in time past. Thus, Nottingham was one of
eoaurgtbhse,itrhpeumblloorbsoost
on
which were authorised by
of Westminster, with Mr. Cubitt, Royal Commis- theoha
charter
rr
tob *nr•
Fierier (in the chair) : Executive Committee of the might consider proper. He, therefnore, anyd
iodccnasoitons
eiev h
,i
venh they
Exhibition of 1851—Colonel Reid, Mr. Dilke, Mr. council should not pass such a resolution as Would yshow
Fuller, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, special Com- that Nottingham did not stand behind other towns in the
missioner. Mr. Digby Wyatt, 'Secretary of the respect paid to the office of mayor." These arguments pre-
vailed, for the council almost unanimously determined to
Executive Committee, 'and Al H. 11also
r. ensman
procure the requisite insignia.
attended. .. .
- • OR THE '5l EXIIIBITIO
A CARPET P N.—We under-
Ile following Local Commissioners werepresent:— stand that a plan for the working of a carpet to be exhibited
Mr. ex ibited
Mr. J. James (Btoadwall), Mr. J. M. Napier (York- next been suggestedthe
year has to ladies of England by
road). , 11-1. •
,J. Spurgin, .D. (Guildford-street), Profes- Mrs. Purcell, of New Burlington-street. A: design of con-
sor J. R. Hind (Observatory, Regent's Park), Mr. siderable elegance has been made by Mr. Gruner, and we
trust our fair countrywomen will not be backward in bestow-
G. H. Drew (Secretary of the Westminster Com• "
ing sodme o.f the labourt theysxpend on the furonifture of their
mittee), Mr. 1). Davies (Wiginore-street), Mr. J. J.
Mechi (Leadenhall-street), Lieutenant-Colonel CA- reallywri worthyrasvi n g -orfo
theiroms
' treoupbrele,nacnedacrselLealmbleento thnLedta
leswteork
---
quhouit (Royal 'Arsenal, 'Woolvvicb), H. Smyth Builder.
(Chelsea), Mr. W.' H. Thornthwaite (Newgate- INGENIOUS Piron or MECHANISM.—We hear
street), Mr. Green (Lambeth), Mr. E. Dent (Strand), that a most ingenious mechanist- a watchmaker at Ar-
Mr. 1). Hutt (High Holborn), Mr. T. G. Ditehburn broatb—is at present engaged, by commission, upon a piece
of clock-work, which, when it is finished (and it is now ad-
), Professor E. Taylor (Gresham College),
Mr. J. Deane (King William-street), Mr. A. Ross vwrllereed)o,irweiltlo, Vethwouotonaddnoubt,
only
a rarity in ittns. way. 3. It
(Featherstone-buildings), Mr. J. G. Graham (Secre- telling the time of the day, iri', welyalesonesehoawmt;Ln hour ofss'udnea-
tary to Woolwich Committee), Mr. R. Tardin, C.E. rise and sunset, the time of high water at Arbroath daily, and
(Charlton), Mr. E. Clark (Strand), Mr. G. Clarke also the day of the month. The manner of its construction
(Secretary to Brenttord Committee), Mr. S. Haden will preclude the necessity of its being altered occasionally,
(hloane-street), Mr. G. Cottam, Rev. S. R. Cattley in an
they way to suit the varying number of days in the months
as y come on in succession—even leap year is provided for
(lion. Secretary to City of London Committee), Mr, with its one day more. The price agreed upon for this unique
J. Field, Lambeth), Mr. H. Maudslay (Larnbetb), piece of mechanism is a very moderate one—only about 10/.
—ev.
and Mr. J. Jennings (Assistant Secretary to City of —Mont.rose n ;ew.
London Committee). Bo w TO MAKE GOOD GLOUCESTERSIIIRE BACON.
At two o'clock yesterday afternoon the Local Cora-
the
eAfster it has been killed one day, put a lip bt coat of salt on
missioners (Metropolitan) representing machinery isbuseid_etso, and when that is dissolved, about 121 b. of saltpetre
emFloyed in the manufacture of fabrics spun, woven, is
lyindg
sinegvleeryenstOhlbeshooofrbacnearndthcovered with salt as it
felted, or laid metals, minerals, vegetable and mineral , four or five sides together, and turn tlrieeem ee
ry
every four
threedadays;put
substances, brewing and distilling apparatus, and after 10 days, 20 sides may be put together and turned ce
manufacturing chemistry, had an interview with Mr. a week; in three weeks from the first salting they will be
Cubitt (in the chair), Royal Commissioner for the raecasedy forthis the stoves, unless they are very heavy, in which
should be delayed another week.
the Exhibition of 1851 ; Colonel Reid, Mr. Dilke, LITERARY CURIOSITY.—The following is a coy,
Mr. Puller, and Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd, Special
verbatim et literatim of advertisement latelposted in Coniro• - '
certain village in
. kstoner. Mr. H. Hensman, 5, Upper Chad- a
—Lost or Strayed From
well-str-et, also attended. Coatley Fell A 11 scotch Ewes and 4 ooldens with half Bred
The Local Commissioners present were Mr. V. Fig- lams with them and 3 sheering scotch gimmers Hogs an
gins, West- street ; Rev. S. R. Cattley, Hon. Sec. Wat Ilar side and P a far side of all that is clip and all
City of London committee ; Mr. W. H. Wylde,Be urrene..lidt Hsolirtn and Lames all ear marked with peace of fare
. Hon. Sec. to Cl&wick ecromitter. ; Mr. S. Green, - Tail:head the property
yeaorf an and motarikedglitenecearrtsetrdanpepri:tf:nal
i Lambeth ; Mr. R. - B-sley, Fann-street ; Mr. 1
12- ;who will give me information I will please them for theaire
Maudslay, Lambeth ; Mr. H. Maudelay, Lambeth; trouble.— Westmorland Gazette.