Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-01-31

| one female. II the reader has ever seen and
| handled q puppy lion, he will understand the
| dolatry Of mother and father. She never
quits them for an instant and he only quits
them to bring home supper When they are
three months old their weaving commences.
The mother accustoms them gradually to it,
by absenting herself for longer and longer
periods, and bringing them pieces Of mutton
carefully skinned The father whose habitu-
al demeanor is grave, becomes tatigued by
the frivolous sports Of his children. and for
the sake of tranquility removes his lodging
to q distance, within reach, however, to rem
der assistance if required. AT the age Of
four or five months the children follow their
mother to the border of the forest where the
father brings them their supper. AT six
months old they accompany father and moth
er on all nocturul expeditions. From eight
TO twelve months they learn to attack sheep,
goats, aud even bulls but they are so awk-
ward that they usually wound ten for one
they kill it is not till they are two years
old that they cun kill horse or u bull with
one bite. While their education is thus in
progress, they are ten times more ruinous to
the Arabs since the family does not content
itself with killing the cattle required for its
own consumption, but kills that the children
may learn how to kill. AT three years old
the children quit home and set up Tor them.
selves, becoming fathers and mothers in their
turn. Their places are occupied by another
brood. AT eight years old the lion reaches
maturity and lives to thirty or forty. When
adult he is a magnificent creature, very differ.
ent in size, aspect and disposition, from the
lions to be seen in menageries and geological
gardens animals taken from the mothers
breast, bread like rabbits, deprived Of the
fresh mountain air and ample uourishment.
As an indication of the size attained by lions
in state Of nature, we may cite the fact
mentioned by Gerard, that the strongest man
in the cavalry regiment, to which he belonged,
was unable to carry the skin and head OF the
lion Gerard had killed.
1t is quite clear, on comparing the works
of Gerard and Gordon Cumming, that the
lion Of nothern Africa is far more formida-
tle enemy than the Jon Of southern Africa.
\ lot only does Cumming seem to have tr.
umphod without difficulty. but he had to
combat lions who ran away from dogs and
generally avoided coming to blows with him.
This is quite contrary to Gerard experience.
The lion of Northern Africa is but too ready
10 attack hungry or not, the sight of an
enemy Touses his fury at once and rs to
cowardice, Gerard's narrative leaves no room
for such Il suspicion. Indeed, the lion, so far
from running away from the hunter, attacks
whole tribe Of armed Arabs, often scattering
them to the winds. No Arab thinks of at
lacking Il lion unless supported by nt least
twenty muskets: and even then, il the lion
is killed, it is not until he has committed
serious damage in their ranks. Fer n long
while they suffer him to devastate their
doHars, aud carry off their cattle in helpless
resignation. IT is not until Their lGSses have
driven them 10 desperation, that they resolve
on attacking him in his lair, aud then they
always choose the aytime.--Having ascer.
tanned his lair, and having decided in full
cOEclave that the attack is TO be made, they
assemble at the foot Of the mountain, and in
groups OF thirty or forty march towards the
lair, shouting at the top of their lungs. On
hearing the noise the lion if young. at once
quits his lair; the loness does the same,
unless she have her infants with her. But,
as he does not Ay, he is soon in sight. and n
discharge Of musketry brings him down upon
them like thunderbolt.
If the lion is adult he knows the meaning
Of this noise which wakes him, and he rises
slowly, yawning and stretching his limbs,
rubbing his sides against the tree, and sink.
ing back bis majestic maue He listens ard
the approaching cries cause him to sharpe,
-.
lie then stalks slowly towards the first ledge
Of rock which commands the country and
espying his enemies from this height, he
crouches and awaits. The Arab who first
sees him, cries, "lhere he is aud deathlike
stiffness succeeds. They pause to contem-
plate him. and to look well TO their arms,
while the lion fowly icks his paws and name,
thus making his toilette de cOmbut After
long pause, an Arab advances in front of the
group, and in u tone Of defiance. shouts
Thou knowest us not, then, that thus thou
liest before us! ! Rise and fly; for we belong
to such q tribe and ! am Abdallah !" The
lion, who has before this eaten more than one
warrior who apostrophized him in precisely
the same terms, continues passing his enor-
nous paws over his face to beautfy himself !;
and makes no reply to the challenge nor to
the second challenge nor TO the epithets of
jew w--"Christian "--"Infdel p literally
bestowed on him, until the voices swell in
chorus, which makes him impatient. lie
then rises, lashes his sides with his tail and
marches straight towards his insulters. The
timld are already in flight the brave remain
aud wait his attack-muske,s ready hearts
beating. lie is beyond their reach, and
walks leisurely towards them. They now
begin to retreat slowly, in order, their faces
luTlieu 10 MN, unll Lhty reJoln lhe nOrsemeil
waiting at the foot OF the mountain, who
Immediately commence gaioping about,
brandshing their muskets and yatagans, and
shouting defiance. The lion, on seeing the
horsemen on the plain, pauses TO reconnoitre
No cries or insults move him. Nothing but
powder will do that. 1t is heard at last, and
then he changes his leisure march fora charge
which scatterS tue little army.
No one is ashamed of dying now each
tries to secure favorable position from
which 10 fire as the lion passes. The horse
men then advance. If, as is usual, the lion
has clutched one Of the retreatng troop, it is
only necessary for horseman TO approach
within reasonable distance and discharge his
gun the lion at once quits his victim to
charge bis assailant. After while, the lion,
wounGed and tired, crouches like cat and
awaits his end. This is terrible moment.
lie is fired at and receives all their balls
without moving; but should horse galiop
near enough to be reached in two or three
bounds, either the rider or the horse is
doomed, for the lion is upon him in an in
stanL and never quits his hold. 1t will as
toniSh European hunters TO hear that thirty
balls al n distance OF twenty PAGES, are not
plways enough TO kill the lion: il is only