he savors his recital and brings piquancy to its cul mination. That very day, perchance, there has been a lion hunt, and here is Osama, who modestly professes to know more about lions and their habits than any one of his time and generation, giving a chapter from his rich and varied experience. " In this very city of Damascus," says he, " there was, once a young lion which had been raised from a whelp by a lion tamer. This lion had acquired a habit of attacking horses, and in that way injured the animals of various citizens. Complaint was brought to the Emir Mu'in al-Din — Allah be good to him ! — and I happened to be with him at the time.6 This lion,' they told him, 'has caused loss to many persons, and the horses run away when he appears upon the street/ The fact was that he would sit night and day on a bank near the home of the Emir. The latter said: 6Go tell this lion tamer to come to me with his lion/ But to his butler he said : 6 Bring from the kitchen one of the rams meant to be slaughtered, and let it loose in the courtyard, so that we can see how the lion will kill it/ The butler brought the ram and at the same moment the lion tamer came with his lion. Hardly had the ram seen the lion than he jumped at him and butted him with his horns. The lion ran, circling the fountain, the ram following and continuously driving him on with repeated butting. We found it difficult to suppress our laughter. Then the Emir—Allah be indulgent to him! — said: 'This lion is a miserable crea