Sometimes a quarrel breaks out among the comrades, and leads to a stand-up fight with the fists; or a lion, perhaps, in quest of a meal, surprises and kills one of the bulls:  the shepherd runs up, his axe in his hand, to contend bravely with the marauder for the possession of his beast.  The shepherd was accustomed to provide himself with assistance in the shape of enormous dogs, who had no more hesitation in attacking beasts of prey than they had in pursuing game.  In these combats the natural courage of the shepherd was stimulated by interest:  for he was personally responsible for the safety of his flock, and if a lion should find an entrance into one of the enclosures.

[Illustration:  329b.jpg SCENES OF PASTORAL LIFE IN CHALDAEA.]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a Chaldaean intaglio from Layard.  Another cylinder of the same kind is reproduced at p. 233 of the present work; it represents Etana arising to heaven by the aid of his friend the eagle, while the pastoral scene below resembles in nearly all particulars that given above.

[Illustration:  330.jpg FIGHT WITH A LION]

     Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from one of the terra-cotta tablets
     discovered by Loftus.

Fishing was not so much a pastime as a source of livelihood; for fish occupied a high place in the bill of fare of the common folk.  Caught by the line, net, or trap, it was dried,in the sun, smoked, or salted.  The chase was essentially the pastime of the great noble—­the pursuit of the lion and the bear in the wooded covers or the marshy thickets of the river-bank; the pursuit of the gazelle, the ostrich, and bustard on the elevated plains or rocky tablelands of the desert.  The onager of Mesopotamia is a very beautiful animal, with its grey glossy coat, and its lively and rapid action.

[Illustration:  331.jpg THE DOG IN TUB LEASH]

     Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a terra-cotta tablet discovered
     by Sir H. Rawlinson in the ruins of Babylon, and now in the
     British Museum

If it is disturbed, it gives forth a cry, kicks up its heels, and dashes off:  when at a safe distance, it stops, turns round, and faces its pursuer:  as soon as he approaches, it starts off again, stops, and takes to its heels again, continuing this procedure as long as it is followed.  The Chaldaeans found it difficult to catch by the aid of dogs, but they could bring it down by arrows, or perhaps catch it alive by stratagem.  A running noose was thrown round its neck, and two men held the ends of the ropes.  The animal struggled, made a rush, and attempted to bite, but its efforts tended only to tighten the noose still more firmly, and it at length gave in, half strangled; after alternating struggles and suffocating paroxysms, it became somewhat calmer, and allowed itself to be led.  It was finally tamed, if not to the extent of becoming useful in agriculture, at least for the purposes of war:  before the horse was