Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-11-18
LION HUNTING.
Thrilling Experiences OF am English
Omcer-Habits Of the Lion and the
Panther.

Thrilling Experiences OF an English
Onicer-Habtts Of the Lion and the
Panther.
The Paris correspondent of the Boston Ad-
rertlser sends that paper the following letter,
relating the experiences of an old African
soldier, who he says, speaks of nothing he
has not personally seen, and who modestly
withholds only such episodes as would place
himself in convenient position:
DEAR FRIEND: You wish me to introduce
you into the true secrets of the African lion
hunt, which you must know little resembles
the fantastic tales told by certain European
travellers, and dilated upon by newspapers
of separating truth from fiction, or drawing
to any satisfactory degree conclusion re-
garding the lion and panther, which are in
fact our only dangerous African carnivorous
animals. Lions are quite numerous in GER
tain parts of the province of Constantine,
rare in those of Algiers and Oran. Panthers,
on the contrary, are seldom seen in the last
two provinces, but are numerous in Algiers.
The habits of these two carnivora differ es-
sentlally. AS general rule, neither the one
nor the other attacks man, unless molested
or threatened by him. 1t sometimes happens,
however, that a panther surprised while eat
ing springs furiously upon the man whose
imprudent foot has troubled the silence of
his repast, and in this case there is moth
ing to hope, as before the bravest man can
have got possession of his arms he is bruis-
ed and broken mass. The panther tears and
mutilates the body, even after all life hasf1ed,
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 preferred dining-spot, quietly makes his
repast, nor thinks of troubling the rest of the
flock until renewed appetite leads him to sat
isfy hunger in the same way. If, during the
repast, he sees man approach, and is not
one may say solemnly-or sometimes, not
even deigning this, he raises his majestic head
looks at the intruder, and by half-friendly
growi warns him that he will not stand being
troubled when at dinner. A pedestrian find
ing himself in this position does we'll to with
draw slowly, for, should he become frighten-
ed and run, the lion is quite capable of feel
ing desire to overtake him, and in that case
will; even in that case, if the man has pres
ence of mind sufficient 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 a
half-playful, friendly sentiment, and so he
does not lose his respect for man-seldom
troubles him. Often-times he joins and
passes the pedestrian, and when at good
distance crOuches across his path, watching
his approach. If the man has the unfortu-
nate idea OF turning to run away, he is lost;
but if lie comes on quietly, neither faster nor
oil hon,
my steadily in the face, showing no signs
of fear, he has every chance to escape. The
lion will growl, wag his tail in rather a terri
flying way, but, allowing the man to pass be-
fore him, gets 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 60 further than
the longest explanation toward illustrating
this. 1t was a hot sultry day in July. The
sirocco made the atmosphere dense with sand
and glare; the very earth seemed on fire.
was returning from a little expedition on the
frontiers of Tunis, and as had some mat
tiers to settle with tribes in the environs of
la Gale, l left my troops to return to Con-
stantine, and, followed only by two spaAis,
turned my steps toward la Gale. Having
started just before day, we arrived about four
o'clock in the afternoon at the ford of the
little river de la Mafrap. Our horses, as we'll
as ourselves, were sadly in want of food and
drink, and we stopped to refresh ourselves at
a 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 stretched out comfortably in the
shade, idly watching band of Arab women
washing clothes in the river. All at once l
was startled by cries proceeding from the op-
posite side of a sand-heap bordering the river,
and half dozen women came rushing into
dragging them into the shallow water, and
behind them magnificent lion, his tail
proudly in the air, and his great brown eyes
looking carelessly from one to the other.
Paying no attention to their retreat into the
river, he followed them there, rubbing him
self up against them, not seeming to mind
in the least their cries or terrified gesticula-
ions, and when he had enough of it he took |
q long drink of the running water, and, turn
ing majestically, walked away into the noun
ains from whence he had come This lion |
was stranger in that part of the country,
and when on the following day went in
search of him he had disappeared
| will recall another souvenir of this expe-
liton which will prove to you the harmless
nature of an unattached lion.
One day. after rather serious skirmish
against the revolted tribes, led my two bat
allions of infantry to a little river situated
wo miles from the fort where we were sta
ioned, in order to allow them to bathe and
:lean their arms. AS q measure of prudence
allowed but half the men to disarm and en-
er the river at time, the remaining battalion
,eing on the qu:oioe, ready for defense. AS
here was no need for haste, allowed the
nen what time they liked for bathing and
leaning. and nioht which falls so suddenly