New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-11-10
The Lion a Mesn1erizer..

ing story, which illustrates the pecularities OF the
Hon =.E.
1t was early in the pleasant month OF June, tnat
the people of Mohouna sent me messenger, praying
me to come and pass Judgment on t;m ta nart Of
great sinners towards them and were still at large
and unpublished This was, however, not " SCI much
owing to their not deserving the penaIy OF the law
as tn certain tidmity that universally prevails on
the mart of the law-giyers towards these powerful
accordingly put myself under the guidance of the |
mahogany coored mercury that brought te rs
duatiug plain threw myself down on the mats OF
the hospitable douars of his tribe The evening mad
already cooled the day, and old and young gathered
around the ruddy fire to tell of old adventures,' or
speculate on the chances of the morrow. Legend and
tale followed each other in rapid course, and apt quo
tatons from the Koran proved the ruin OF intts tt
might otherwise have been met with lncieduilty.
From all these sources learned the tOoWlnG nao-
its of nv tavorte animal that give the more readily
as they are confirmed by my after experience.
The lion treats man very differently from any
animal that he is accustomed to XII LOT lood' II ne
kills a man who has fired at him he never eats the
body If he meets in his nightly promenade man
we'll clothed in burnous his experience shows im that
he is not marauder and may either kill him for food,
if the fancy happens to take him. ne Will XII MIN
| by fear, little by little, just as pastlme.
In the first case he will give him barely time enough
to say his prayers, and then bounding on him VIII
crush his head with single bite, instead of strangng
accustomed TO 40 Will JULIET
III the second case he will sometimes bar the passage
of the unfortunate fellow by lying down before hlnl,
and then he will walk along by his side, purrlng and
showing his teeth like a tiger. Sometimes he makes
believe to go away and leave nm alone, any Inen
| making long detour, he will conceal himself along
the path, and charge at him with roar Sometimes
he crouches down like cat and bounds on his victim
who gives himself up for lost but the tantazer only
| knocks him over with his paw,Sor walking around
him strikes him in the face with blow like fail
! from his muscular tail.
At last the victim succumbs to the agony that is
greater hav thousand deaths, and dies OF very tear.
These pastimes Of the lion, that can well i'm
aeine have never been told by the victim himself are
reported by his comrades, who having been Ill com
pany sought safety in flight by taking refuge on rocks
or trees while the poor soul that was captured, TOO
much frightened to initiate their example, died before
their eyes of terror while they could do nothing for
his relief but pray to the prophet, who only heard
when it was too late to save.
These attacks, 50 horrible in their fascination, have
given certain scmbance of proof to the universally
accredited belief in the magnetizng power OF the hon
Whether it may be true or not, the following story
which heard at the donar, will not be amiss;
Once upon time, and that time about thirty years
ago a yolng man Of the tribe OF Amenlala, which
tribe holds the lands that lie by the foot OF Mount
Aures loved and was beloved by beautiful girl. He
applied to the father Of the maiden for the hand OF
his daughter but the old man, more thoughtful Tor
tocks and herds than youthful sentiments, refused
groom who could scarcely endow his bride with
Yet still the love was not diminished, tho the heav
ems did not smile, and one fine night the lady tent
was empty and she on the open PLAIN with her arm
on her lovers shoulder, was seeking dearer home.
Seghir her intended, was armed as an Arab should
be, with steel and gum and though the distance ron
the d0r long yet still the feet OF love are sWt
and the tents of Seghirs tribe already shone White N
the starlight before them, and SeghrS hounds could
be heard hlying hoarse welcome to their approach
when suddenly lion sprang up III the path before
, them.
men,, in the camp heard her cries and came Rushing
to her succor. When they reached the place guided
by the voice. they saw the lion walking slowly to-
wards the woods. with his eyes fastened on Seghr,
| who was following him.
The Young girl tried hard to draw her lover back,
but lie held her hand and pulled her along in spite Of
her resistance. saying
Come, dearest, oar scignor calls US
"No! no. Your arms, Seghlr, are they useless 10
save me-"
"My arms, have none' answered the fascnate d
man - don't listen to her, my scignor she does not
speak tile truth, have no arms and Will folo" you
The Arabs who had come to the rescue 0Fthe lovers
numbered about ten, and seeing that the couple were
about to be drawn into the woods, they all took ann
together at the lion and fired, when peleeiVhg that
the animal did not fall they all ran away together
towards the tents. The lion instantly bounded on
Seshr and crushed his head with one crunch OF his
laws, and then laid himself down by the side OF the
young girl putting his paws Oh her knees.
The Arabs, cmboltlencd by seeing that they were
not pursued after they had rechar%ed their guns re-
turned to the attack. Fearing for the young girl,
they tried to ret the lion away from her before rlhg
at him. which they succeeded in doing, but when they
lowered their Guns to take aim, before they could pull
their triggers the animal bounded Oh them anoseMed
one with his teeth, and one with each OF his 'front.'
paws, and drawing them together IN heap, he IA
down en- the writing bodies, and commenced Slowly
to tear them in pieces, and crunch their heaus lis NE
had done that OF ScShir.
Those that escaped fed to the douar, and told what
had happened and the lion picked up the grl and
carried her into the woods while the men III he doaai
could hear her screams implorng them Tor help, but
did not dare go to her assistance.
On the next day all the men Of the tribe went out
to gather the bodies OF their friends, bn nothing was
to I've found Of the young girl, except her white gar
ment that lay in the woods ngcd in her long trescs
of hair Her raysher had eaten the rest.
Is it true that the lion SO influence certain fee
; bic minds as to cause them to follow him! The
Arabs firmly believe it, and will cite hundreds OF eX
Is for myself can freely say that when I have
found myself in the presence Of this monarch, never
felt the least desire to join his company, or 10 say
with the poet:
! O,,i. de IA suite 0 yoi, dc tn suite, jen suiS,
Though can easily understand how the fixed gaze
of the lion, together with his ma este bearing and i'm
posing front may awe man who suddenly CONES
into lis presence that he may be rendered totally
pOWerltsS of escape
a On the next night about the middle of the night
Y while on the hunt met young lien. which seeing
me coming to him. lay down in the path to await my
l. approach
! The moon was shining brightly, and I walked tt
within fifteen feet OF him. while lie still remained per
= fectly notionlcss judged by his tactics that it Wa
safest not to come to any closer quarters and 50 put
4 ting one knee to the ground aimed just behind TIN
shoulder and fired.
l., / don't know precisely how it happened, but beor
o | saw or knew anything more, | found myself dow
| on my back, and the lion standing over me and m,
:, arm lying against bis front ley. Most fortunately to
# me- wore heavy turban, the folds of which Pre-
served my head. AS quickly rs could slipped III.
head ont OF my urban, which the lion was tearing II
pieces and crawling from under my burnolS, whic
\ i also left III his grasp, found myself once nor
J free.
! immediately took advantage Of my liberty
8 drive bullet through the brain of the young fool
who still continued tearing 10 pieces my OnlnouS an
Il turhan.
Up0n examining the body of my young acouan
= anrr traced the first bah that had entered at on
side and gone out the other just behind the sAou
der The second ball made its entrance in one eal
II and its exit by the other. This was the fourth lion
had killed i'll Algeria.
TuE RED NUNS or BELUlrM.-Iherc is in Hrugc
community more interesting PERHAPS, than IN
J. other colvrntuHl establishment, for a certain Hc
mystery which ulishrouls it aud from the lactraalj
d explained hv the uuheAlthincs+ Of the locality i
which the convent has been unfortunately placed
ID that most Of its yOlrcs either die young or lose Il
appearances OF health soon after entering it. The lie
- / NII AT thn a HrTIm their