Page:The Burton Holmes lectures; (IA burtonholmeslect04holm).pdf/167

 BREAD

appear, calmly tie a rope around the lion's neck, and serenely lead away the desert king. The poor old beast is blind and tame and harmless. His keepers make a living by renting him to amateur photographers or to ambitious sportsmen desirous of sending home convincing "proofs" of their prowess in hunting the fierce Numidian lion. We could have been made heroes ourselves for the sum of ten francs each, cash down. The natives willingly pay a few pennies for the privilege of jumping over the harmless beast, believing that such exercise will make them brave and lion-hearted. Returning from this amusing excursion, we reach the market-place of Biskra at the moment most propitious. We find it thronged with stately Arabs, whose lofty dignity accords but ill with their prosaic callings and pursuits. Biskra is the metropolis of the region, and her daily market is frequented by the inhabitants of many oases, who come to sell camels and dates, to