When they are to be so employed the Lions are taken out in a
covered cart, and every Lion has a little doggie with him. [They are
obliged to approach the game against the wind, otherwise the animals would
scent the approach of the Lion and be off.][NOTE 3]
There are also a great number of eagles, all broken to catch wolves,
foxes, deer, and wild goats, and they do catch them in great numbers. But
those especially that are trained to wolf-catching are very large and
powerful birds, and no wolf is able to get away from them.[NOTE 4]
NOTE 1. - The Cheeta or Hunting-Leopard, still kept for the chase by native
noblemen in India, is an animal very distinct from the true leopard. It is
much more lanky and long-legged than the pure felines, is unable to climb
trees, and has claws only partially retractile. Wood calls it a link
between the feline and canine races. One thousand Cheetas were attached to
Akbar's hunting establishment; and the chief one, called Semend-Manik, was
carried to the field in a palankin with a kettledrum beaten before him.
Boldensel in the first half of the 14th century speaks of the Cheeta as
habitually used in Cyprus; but, indeed, a hundred years before, these
animals had been constantly employed by the Emperor Frederic II.
