Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-11-04
LiOn-HuntIng in Africa.

Paris Cor. Boston Advertiser
Lions are quite numerous in GER
tain parts of the Province of Con.
stantine, rare in those of Algiers and
Oran. Panthers on she contrary, are
seldom seen in the last two prov
inces, but are numerous in Algiers.
The habits of these two carnivora
differ essentially. AS 4 general rule,
neither the one nor the other attacks
man, unless molested or threatened
by him. 1t sometimes happens, how
ever, that panther, surprised while
eating, springs furiously upon the
man whose imprudent foot has
troubled the silence of his repast, and
in that case there is nothing to hope,
as before the bravest man can have
got possession of his arms he is a
bruised and broken mass. The pan
ther tears and mutilates the body,
even after life has fee, ,=but does not
devour it. In general he kills for the
pleasure of killing, and even when
attacking flock or herd he vents his
savage fury on many before deciding
to eat one.
The lion, on the contrary, springs
upon his victim and at once devours
it, or, dragging it to q preferred din
ing spot, quietly makes his repast;
nor thinks of troubling the rest of
the flock until renewed appetite
leads him to satisfy hunger in the
same way. If during the repast he
sees man approach, and is not ra-
venous, he gets up and walks away
slowly, one may say solemnly-or
sometimes not even deigning this he
raises his majestic head. looks at the
intruder, and by half-friendly
growl warns him that he will not
stand being troubled when at dinner.
A pedestrian finding himself in this
position does well to withdraw slow
", for, should ne become frightened
and run, the lion is quite capable of
feeling a desire to cvertake him, and
in that case will; even in that case,
if the man has presence of mind suiii-
cient to understand the danger, and
do the only thing remaining to be
done, he may still escape safe and
sound. For the lion seems oftenest
actuated by half-playful, friendly
sentiment, and SO he does not lose his
respect for man-seldom troubles
him. Oftentimes he joins and pas
ses the pedestrian, and when at a
good distance crouches across his
path, watching his approach. If the
man has the unfortunate idea of
turning to run away, he is lost; but
if he comes on quietly, neither fas-
ter nor slower than his usual pace,
looking his enemy steadily in the
face, and showing no signs of fear,
he has every chance of escape. The
lion will growl, wag his tail in rather
terrifying way, but, allowing the
man to pass before him, get up, and
as though admitting to himself that
he had honestly lost the game, go
quietly back to his lair.
A lion rarely attacks women, and
| once witnessed scene which will
go further than the longest explana
tion toward illustrating this. 1t was
a hot, sultry day in July. The siroc-
co made the atmosphere dense with
sand and glare; the very earth
seemed ON fire. l was returning
from little expedition on the from
tiers of Tunis, and as l had some
matters to settle with tribes in the
environs of Ia Gale left my troops
to return to Constantine, and, follow
ed only by two spahis, turned my
steps toward la Gale. Having start
ed just before day, we arrived about
four clock in the afternoon at the
ford of the little river de la Mafrdg.
Our horses, as well as we ourselves,
were sadly in want of food and drink,
and we stopped to refresh ourselves
at little inn kept by an European.
and situated on low mound two or
three hundred yards from the ford.
While waiting for my frugal repast
! unbuckled my sword, laid by my
pistols. and, stretching out comforta-
bly, in the shade, idly watched a band
of Arab women washing clothes in
the river. All at once / was star
tied by cries proceeding from the OPP
posite side of a sand heap bordering
the river, and half dozen women
came rushing into the midst of their
peaceable companions, dragging
them into the shallow water. and be-
hind them a magnificent lion, his