The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-03-12
Lion Hunting IN Algeria.

| CSS''o III ehO ABOUT tDTcc mile
from the entrance of the gorge in deep ra
vine running off to one side is what is know
as Monkey Valley, where there are lot o
wild monkeys. By paying couple of francs t.
an old Arab, whom we found in hut clos
by, we we're led off this ravne for about
quarter of mile, and, after hunting aroun,
ior few minutes came upon whole colony
OF our cousins. There were probably hun
dred altogether, some hanging from the tree
or perched upon them, in all shapes, and
few scampering about on the ground anon.
the undergrowth-and all jabbering rapid,
and vehemently. They were not atogethe
wild, and, after few minutes, some of then
even ventured toward us. Others soon FOL
lowed, and in quarter of an hour they wer,
all within so yards of us, and a few ever
ventured on the trees above our heads. In
rash moment / tried to enslave small one
which | caught under some bushes. But the
moment caught it thought Bedlam was
broken loose, they all seemed to object
three or four big males especially. paid nc
attention to their remonstrances, and turned
to go away with my little prisoner, when
suddenly great old granny fell on my head
and shoulders, from somewhere up in the
clouds. So said thought So too, and laid
the little monkey down and quietly took q
walk. When reached the hut needed a
surgeon and tailor more than usual. | do
not remember whether was very much scar.
4 4
ed or not, but l do know that thought af-
terwards, when calmly meditating about the
future, that if lions were much larger and
more savage than that old monkey, | did
not believe l wanted to see any of them.
| About three hours later, the same party that
started after the lions before now struck the
trail again. 1t was not difficult to follow
for there was now and then, blood upon it,
1t led US up and around the side of hill,
until we came to the table land between that
and another hill. We went down this for an
hour or more, when the leader, who was a
hundred yards or more in advance motioned
us to stop. He rode back to us, spoke some
thing Arabic to those in advance of us,
when he left his horse and went on foot
We all then dismounted, left the horses in
charge of three OF the men, and followed at
some distance in the rear of the leader in
perfect silence. In few minutes we began
to hear a noise, which at once gave us to un-
derstand we are near the object of our
search. 1t was deep, rumbling growl
We now took our way more cautiously than
before, until we came to place where there
was an abrupt descent for about fifty feet.
Here the trail struck off to the right and de-
scended. In looking down into the narrow
valley below US we saw to the right thick.
ct Of dense undergrowth. 1t was from thence
the noise proceeded. The brush was SC
thick that Notwithstanding the elevation
and our downward view, we could see moth
ing. The spot where we halted was covered
with fair sized trees, mostly white oaks. We
Immediately placed ourselves at the brink
side by side, with our guns ready. Thus fal
We had made no noise, but one of the Arabs
in getting into his position, had slipped and
let his gun fall among some rocks. Immed-
ately there was loud growl, and the male
lion leaped at one bound into the open
/ space at the foot of the declivity. | shall
Pnever forge. the feelings of that moment
The magnificent beast stood there for a sec,
Ond, the very personifcation of power and
rage-his mane stood out like brstles, his
eyes seemed ts fash fire, his mouth, widely
distended, emitted roar which caused the
| V cry rock under us to yibrate. 1t was but 9
Sc cond, although it seemed an age. Nine
guns were flashed before him, but their lead.
en- hail seemed only to add fuel to his rage
| and not to weaken him. We were too high
for him to reach us. In his rage he tore the
l earth before him with his paws, and roared
until my nerves seemed charged with a pow.
erful current of electricity, and / could but
with difficulty reload my gun. But suddenly
he darted away To the right. Then the lead.
| er cried out for Us 30 climb the trees, and ev.
| erybody ran for tree and commenced te
climb. In my nervousness l found haC
left my gun. l ran back to get it, and just
as had reached the tree, and commenced tc
climb, the lion bounded up the hill at the
side. He paused for a moment, l was unable
to climb. dropped my gun on the ground
and then dropped myself. Ieaught his eye
Somebody says if you look a lion boldly in
the eye he won't harm you. As last re-
sort, tried it on this one but it must have
been different kind of lion, or else nay eff
fort was a very weak one. saw that he
had made up his mind to eat me, and my
| look did not seem 70 make any appreciabls
change in his line of conduct, so | just Sc
nay hair on end, whitened up my face, anC
started down the other side of the hill on
little sweepstake of my own. But it wa
unnecessary, for at that moment the men OF
the trees opened on the lion, and one bal
went through his heart, and he fell from mic
air with gigantic bound but half compile
ted. The men jumped down aud rushed to
wards him, but they stopped very suddenly
for the old king of beasts, royal in death a,
| in life, by "A terrible effort sprang upon hi
launches to leap again at his destroyers
when death seized him and he fell short o
his mark.
Our rejoicings were cut short by somebod,
raising the question of the whereabouts O
the lioness. Two of the Arabs started dowI
the thicket. A moment later we heard q
couple of shots and shout of triumph
We all Immediately went down and founc
the ioness quite dead, and almost cold
The Arabs claimed to have killed her ; bu
l knew and so did they, that it was false.
Two men were left in charge of the bodies
and the remainder returned to camp. In tn,
general rejoicings that night after the lion
had been brought in, though often invited
Antoin and | took no part. But in tn
morning, after making some presents to tn
Sheik, who was now recovered, and takin
our leave, we mounted our camels and re
turned to Ain Oussera caravansary.
ALL MEN ERR.-Let no mistakes no
wrong impressions, of which every man il