Page 87 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 8 7

He describes the course of the hunt as follows:
“Hunting on horseback. The hunt just described, however, is not the pleasure of the
respected, the rider; the hunt they undertake is the chase.

12 - 15 horsemen set off, taking servants, tents, food and 7 - 8 sighthounds with them and

head towards the area where the gazelles usually stay.

If one sees such a herd in the distance, one rides towards it, covered as far as possible by
trees and the terrain; approaching to about ¼ lieue (1 lieue métrique, from 1799 = 4 km), the

servants, who lead the hounds by the paddock straps, ... whose muzzles are also tied to
prevent their howling caused by the desire, get off the horses and let the hounds go.

As soon as they let go, they plunge forward like the arrow, and the Arabs spur them on even
more by shouting and shouting encouragement: “My brother! My master! My friend! They

are here!”

The riders follow at a short gallop, without hurrying, so that they do not lose the trail; the

baggage follows slowly.

The best hounds reach the herd after a run of 2 - 3 Lieues (8 - 12 km), the others have to
cover a distance of 5, even 6 Lieues.

Only now does the spectacle begin to get interesting. The sighthound of good race chooses

the most beautiful animal of the herd and pounces on it. The fight begins, a fight of speed
and agility. The gazelle diverts from the assumed direction, hooks to the right and left, now
plunges forward, then back, jumps itself in the middle of the hounds, sometimes tries to

make the track unrecognisable, sometimes pushes the hound with its horns; but all this
cannot save it; tirelessly, full of fire, the enemy harasses it. The moment she is reached, she
screams and utters lamentations; it is her swan song, the hound's victory song, which seizes
her and breaks her vertebral bone with a bite behind the head. - The gazelle collapses and
lies motionless under the eyes of the victor until the hunters approach and stab the still

living animal. ...

The well-mounted horsemen and the masters of the best hounds resume the hunt, and only
in the evening do man and beast think of rest.”