Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-07-10
Jules Gerard in Algeria.

Independent of the story of his encoun.
ters with lions, Jules Gerard gives the
reader some interesting reading relative to
the Arab tribes and the mode in which the
French civilize their Algerian dependencies.
Religious-deeply religious--as our hero is,
it never occurs TO him that there is any
thing wrong in the French possession, or
right in the native rebellions. He considers
the mountain warfare great honor to the
French troops, and rapturously tells us, ait
is grand and imposing spectacle to see
one of our columns driving away herd OF
forty Thousand head of every species Of cat
tie, the fortune of whole tribe, with its
tents, baggage and furniture" Whilst
Lion-hunting, as we'll as romantic adven-
lures met with, Jules Gerard heard some
romantic tales-one relates to
sEGmR AND HIS BRIDE.
"About thirty years ago, young man,
named Seghir, belonging to the tribe of the
Amamera, established in the Aures noun
tains, fell in love with young girl who had
been refused to him by the father on ac-
count of his poverty. The young people,
however, were much attached to each other,
and one fine evening the young girl ran
away with her lover.
"The distance being considerable between
the two douars, and the road extremely per-
ilous, Seghir had armed himself from lead
to foot Already the most dangerous parts
of the road had been passed, and they were
beginning to hear the dogs of the douar to-
wards which they were rapidly advancing,
when all at once lion, who till that mo-
ment had lain concealed behind the bushes,
rose and walked straight towards them.
"The young girl shrieked SO fearfully that
she was heard by the people in the tents,
and several of the men Immediately seized
their arms and rushed out to the rescue
When they reached the spot to which they
were directed by the screams of the young
maiden, they saw the lion walking slowly
a few PAGES in front of Seghir with his eyes
steadily fixed upon him, and leading him
thus towards the forest.
"The young girl did all she could to pre-
vent her Lover following the lion, or to in
duce him to let go his hold Of herself, but
in vain; he kept dragging her on in spite
of all her efforts, saying:
"sCome, my beloved, come, our master
will have it so, we must CO."
"..But your weapons she cried, d,'what are
they good for, if not TO save meP
Weapons. ] have nome answered the
fascinated wretch. Great Lord, believe
her not; she lies; am perfectly unarmed,
and will follow you whereveryou will!'
cat this moment the Arabs, eight or ten
in number, who had come to the rescue of
the unfortunate couple, perceiVing that the
lion would very soon draw them into the
forest, fired every one of them upon him;
but on finding that he Gid not fall, they took
to their heels. The lion sprang upon Seq
hir, and with one bound crushed him to the
earth, smashing his head at bite; after
which he lay down by the side Of the young
girl, placing his huge paw upon her knees.
"The Arabs now finding that the lion did
not condescend to pursue them, took cour-
age and returned, and having reloaded their
guns prepared again to fire; but being
afraid of killing the girl, they told her to
try and get little away from the lion, which
he allowed her to do, without, however, 10
sing sight of her.
1.-The moment the guns of the Arabs were
levelled at him, the lion sprung into the
midst of them, seized one of them with his
teeth and two others with his claws, and
dragged them thus together so as TO make,
as it were, one bundle; then placing under
him that mass of palpitating flesh, he in
stantly smashed the three heads, as he had
done that of Seghir. Those who had
escaped ran off to the douar, and related
what they had witnessed, but no one was
bold enough to return for another attack
The lion then seized the woman and carried
her off into the forest.
"Next day they came to carry away the
bodies of the four men; as to the young girl
nothing was found but her hair, her feet,
and her Clothes"
Is it then really true that the lion has
the power of fascinating the weak organiza-
ton of certain men to the extent of obligng
them to follow him! All tina. can say is,
i that every ARAB nave lnterrogated on the
subject has answered me in the affirmative,
and quoted number of examples in support
of his assertion.
AS for myself, can only say that when
ever I have had the honor to find myself in
the presence of this great monarch, never
felt the slightest inclination to follow mis-
royal steps, though | can quite understand
how his threatening aspects, his kiDgly ma
iesty, and the piercing fixedness of his fiery
look. should paralyze the heart and brain OF
those who meet him unexpectedly.
Another is
| THE MARRIAGE OF SNAIL.
'sAmong the Arabs, where high tent man
married, he invites number ofpeople, who
90 and fetch the bride at her parents house
to bring her to her new dwelling, cere.
mony which is performed in palanquin