ismailia-第97章

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villages　retired　to　make　the　necessary　arrangements。

Should　a　chief　be　hospitably　disposed；　he　would　frequently　give　a　grand
entertainment　prior　to　the　meet。　On　such　occasions　upwards　of　a　thousand
natives　would　arrive　from　different　villages；　in　their　full…dress
costume；　consisting　of　plumes　of　ostrich　feathers；　leopard…skin　mantles；
and　their　faces　painted　a　frightful　colour　with　fresh　cow…dung。　On　these
occasions　a　large　quantity　of　merissa　was　consumed；　and　one　or　two　oxen
were　slaughtered；　according　to　the　wealth　of　the　person　who　gave　the
festivity。

The　sorcerer　was　an　important　personage　at　such　entertainments；　as　it
was　necessary　to　assure　good　luck　by　a　variety　of　magic　ceremonies；　that
would　not　only　protect　the　hunters　from　accidents；　but　would　also　bring
the　wild　animals　direct　into　their　nets。

At　length　the　day　of　the　hunt　had　arrived；　when　several　thousand　people
would　collect　at　a　certain　rendezvous；　about　nine　miles　distant　from
Fatiko；　on　the　Fabbo　road；　which　is　the　best　neighbourhood　for　game。

At　a　little　before　5　A。M。　I　started　on　my　solitary　but　powerful　horse；
〃Jamoos；〃　accompanied　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　with
a　few　soldiers　of　〃The　Forty〃。　Gimoro　and　Shooli；　who　were　renowned
hunters；　were　always　with　me　when　shooting。　These　excellent　men　had　an
extraordinary　affection　for　each　other；　and　they　were　well　known　as
inseparablesthe　one　was　rarely　seen　without　the　other。

Descending　the　rocky　terrace　from　the　station　at　Fatiko；　we　were　at　once
in　the　lovely；　park…like　glades；　diversified　by　bold　granite　rocks；
among　which　were　scattered　the　graceful　drooping　acacias　in　clumps　of
dense　foliage。

Crossing　the　clear；　rippling　stream；　we　clambered　up　the　steep　bank　on
the　opposite　side；　and；　after　a　ride　of　about　a　mile　and　a　half；　we
gained　the　water…shed；　and　commenced　a　gradual　descent　towards　the　west。

We　were　now　joined　by　numerous　people；　both　men；　women　and　children；　all
of　whom　were　bent　upon　the　hunt。

The　men　carried　their　nets　and　spears；　the　boys　were　also　armed　with
lighter　weapons；　and　the　very　little　fellows　carried　tiny　lances；　all　of
which　had　been　carefully　sharpened　for　the　expected　game。

The　women　were　in　great　numbers；　and　upon　that　day　the　villages　were
quite　deserted。　Babies　accompanied　their　mothers；　strapped　upon　their
backs　with　leathern　bands；　and　protected　from　the　weather　by　the　usual
tortoise…like　coverings　of　gourd…shells。　Thus　it　may　be　imagined　that
the　Shooli　tribe　were　born　hunters；　as　they　had　accompanied　the　public
hunts　from　their　earliest　infancy。

My　two　boys；　Saat　and　Bellaal；　carried　spare　guns。　These　fine　strong
lads　always　attended　me；　and　they　had　become　useful　gun…bearers。　They
were　both　plucky　fellows。　Little　Amarn　had　been　suffering　for　more　than
twelve　months　from　an　ulcerated　leg；　therefore　he　was　spared　from
unnecessary　fatigue；　and　was　the　pet　boy　at　home。

As　we　proceeded；　the　number　of　natives　increased；　but　there　was　no　noise
or　loud　talking。　Every　one　appeared　thoroughly　to　understand　his　duties。

Having　crossed　the　beautiful　Un…y…Ame　river；　we　entered　the　game
country。　Extensive　prairies；　devoid　of　forest；　now　stretched　before　us
in　graceful　undulations　to　the　base　of　distant　mountains。　The　country
was　watered　by　numerous　clear　streams；　all　of　which　drained　into　the
main　channel　of　the　Un…y…Ame　river；　that　became　a　roaring　torrent
during　the　wet　season。

We　now　left　the　Fabbo　path　and　struck　off　to　our　left　for　several　miles；
over　ground　that　had　been　cleared　by　burning；　which　showed　in　many
directions　the　crimson　fruit　of　the　wild　ginger；　growing　half…exposed
from　the　earth。　This　is　a　leathery；　hard　pod；　about　the　size　of　a
goose…egg；　filled　with　a　semi…transparent　pulp　of　a　subacid　flavour；
with　a　delicious　perfume　between　pine…apple　and　lemon…peel。　It　is　very
juicy　and　refreshing；　and　is　decidedly　the　best　wild　fruit　of　Central
Africa。

The　natives　immediately　collected　a　quantity；　and　we　quickly　pushed
forward　to　the　rendezvous；　where；　upon　arrival；　we　found　a　great　number
of　people　were　collected。

A　line　of　about　a　mile　and　a　half　was　quickly　protected　by　netting；　and
the　natives　were　already　in　position。

Each　man　had　lashed　his　net　to　that　of　his　neighbour　and　supported　it
with　bamboos；　which　were　secured　with　ropes　fastened　to　twisted　grass。
Thus　the　entire　net　resembled　a　fence；　that　would　be　invisible　to　the
game　in　the　high　grass；　until；　when　driven；　they　should　burst　suddenly
upon　it。

The　grass　was　as　dry　as　straw；　and　several　thousand　acres　would　be　fired
up　to　windward；　which　would　compel　the　animals　to　run　before　the　flames；
until　they　reached　the　netting　placed　a　few　paces　in　front；　where　the
high　grass　had　been　purposely　cleared　to　resist　the　advance　of　the　fire。

Before　each　section　of　net；　a　man　was　concealed　both　within　and　without；
behind　a　screen；　simply　formed　of　the　long；　grass　tied　together　at　the
top。

The　rule　of　sport　decided　that　the　proprietor　of　each　section　of　netting
of　twelve　yards　length　would　be　entitled　to　all　game　that　should　be
killed　within　these　limits；　but　that　the　owners　of　the　manors　which
formed　the　hunt　upon　that　day　should　receive　a　hind　leg　from　every
animal　captured。

This　was　fair　play；　but　in　such　hunts　a　breach　of　the　peace　was　of
common　occurrence；　as　a　large　animal　might　charge　the　net　and　receive　a
spear　from　the　owner　of　the　section；　after　which　he　might　break　back；
and　eventually　be　killed　in　the　net　of　another　hunter；　which　would　cause
a　hot　dispute。

The　nets　had　been　arranged　with　perfect　stillness；　and　the　men　having
concealed　themselves；　we　were　placed　in　positions　on　the　extreme　flanks
with　the　rifles。

Rifle…shooting　was　dangerous　work；　as　the　country　was　alive　with　people；
who　were　hidden　in　every　direction。

I　took　my　position　behind　a　white…ant　hill　in　front　of　a　stream　which
rippled　in　a　hollow　about　forty　yards　beneath　me。

Molodi　had　quite　recovered　from　the　wound　he　had　received　on　2nd　August；
and　he　carried　the　basket　that　contained　our　luncheon。　This　consisted　of
three　bottles　of　milk　and　a　few　hard…boiled　eggs；　with　a　supply　of　salt
and　pepper。

There　is　nothing　so　good　as　milk　for　support　during　a　long　day's　work；
provided　it　is　used　with　water；　in　a　proportion　of　one…third　milk。　A
bottle　of　rich　milk　will　therefore　produce　three　bottles　of　wholesome
drink。　This　is　far　preferable　to　the　use　of　spirits；　which　are　merely　a
temporary　stimulant；　and　frequently　are　great　enemies　to　good
rifle…shooting。

Molodi's　basket　was　arranged　with　a　white　napkin　over　the　contents。　　As
such　a　colour　would　attract　attention；　I　ordered　him　to　conceal　himself
and　his　basket　behind　a　neighbouring　ant…hill。

Mr。　Baker　was　far　away　on　my　right；　and　Abd…el…Kader　was　upon　the
extreme　right　flank。

Everything　was　ready；　and　men　had　already　been　stationed　at　regular
intervals　about　two　miles　to　windward；　where　they　waited　with　their
fire…stick　for　the　appointed　signal。

A　shrill　whistle　disturbed　the　silence。　　This　signal　was　repeated　at
intervals　to　windward。

In　a　few　minutes　after　the　signal；　a　long　line　of　separate　thin　pillars
of　smoke　ascended　into　the　blue　sky；　forming　a　band　extending　over　about
two　miles　of　the　horizon。

The　thin　pillars　rapidly　thickened；　and　became　dense　volumes；　until　at
length　they　united；　and　formed　a　long　black　cloud　of　smoke　that　drifted
before　the　wind　over　the　bright　yellow　surface　of　the　high　grass。

The　natives　were　so　thoroughly　concealed；　that　no　one　would　have
supposed　that　a　human　being　beside　ourselves　was　in　the　neighbourhood。　I
had　stuck　a　few　twigs　into　the　top　of　the　ant…hill　to　hide　my　cap；　and
having　cut　out　a　step　in　the　side　for　my　feet　at　the　required　height；　I
waited　in　patience。

The　wind　was　brisk；　and　the　fire　travelled　at　about　four　miles　an　hour。　
We　could　soon　hear　the　distant　roar；　as　the　great　volume　of　flame　shot
high　through　the　centre　of　the　smoke。

The　natives　had　also　lighted　the　grass　a　few　hundred　yards　in　our　rear。

Presently　I　saw　a　slate…coloured　mass　trotting　along　the　face　of　the
opposite　slope；　about　250　yards　distant。　I　quickly　made　out　a
rhinoceros；　and　I　was　in　hopes　that　he　was　coming　towards　me。　Suddenly
he　turned　to　my　right；　and　continued　along　the　face　of　the　inclination。

Some　of　the　beautiful　leucotis　antelope　now　appeared　and　cantered
towards　me；　but　halted　when　they　approached　the　stream；　and　listened。
The　game　understood　the　hunting　as　well　as　the　natives。　In　the　same
manner　that　the　young　children　went　out　to　hunt　with　their　parents；　so
had　the　wild　animals　been　hunted　together　with　their　parents　ever　since
their　birth。

The　leucotis　now　charged　across　the　stream；　at　the　same　time　a　herd　of
hartebeest　dashed　past。　I　knocked　over　one；　and　with　the　left…hand
barrel　I　wounded　a　leucotis。　At　this　moment　a　lion　and　lioness；　that　had
been　disturbed　by　the　fire　in　our　rear；　came　bounding　along　close　to
where　Molodi　had　been　concealed　with　the　luncheon。　Away　went　Molodi　at　a
tremendous　pace！　and　he　came　rushing　past　me　as　though　the　lions　were
chasing　him；　but　they　were　endeavouring　to　escape　themselves；　and　had　no
idea　of　attacking。

I　was　just　going　to　take　the　inviting　shot；　when；　as　my　finger　was　on
the　trigger；　I　saw　the　head　of　a　native　rise　out　of　the　grass　exactly　in
the　line　of　fire；　then　another　head　popped　up　from　a　native　who　had　been
concealed；　and　rather　than　risk　an　accident　I　allowed　the　lion　to　pass。
In　one　magnificent　bound　it　cleared　the　stream；　and　disappeared　in　the
high　grass。

The　fire　was　advancing　rapidly；　and　the　game　was　coming　up　fast。　　A
small　herd　of　leucotis　crossed　the　brook；　and　I　killed　another；　but　the
smoke　had　become　so　thick　that　I　was　nearly　blinded。　It　was　at　length
impossible　to　see；　the　roar　of　the　fire　and　the　heat　were　terrific；　as
the　blast　swept　before　the　advancing　flames；　and　filled　the　air　and　eyes
with　fine　black　ashes。　I　literally　had　to　turn　and　run　hard　into　fresher
atmosphere　to　get　a　gasp　of　cool　air；　and　to　wipe　my　streaming　eyes。
Just　as　I　emerged　from　the　smoke；　a　leucotis　came　past；　and　received
both　the　right　and　left　bullets　in　a　good　place；　before　it　fell。

The　fire　reached　the　stream　and　at　once　expired。　The　wind　swept　the
smoke　on　before；　and　left　in　view　the　velvety　black　surface；　that　had
been　completely　denuded　by　the　flames。

The　natives　had　killed　many　antelopes；　but　the　rhinoceros　had　gone
through　their　nets　like　a　cobweb。　Several　buffaloes　had　been　seen；　but
they　had　broken　out　in　a　different　direction。　Lieut。　Baker　had　killed
three　leucotis；　Abd…el…Kader　had　killed　one；　and　had　hit　a　native　in　the
leg　with　a　bullet；　while　aiming　at　a　galloping　antelope。　I　had　killed
five。

I　doctored　the　native；　and　gave　him　some　milk　to　drink；　and　his　friends
carried　him　home。　This　was　a　very　unfortunate　accident；　and　from　that
day　the　natives　gave　Abd…el…Kader　a　wide　berth。

Most　of　the　women　were　heavily　laden　with　meat：　the　nets　were　quickly
gathered　up；　and；　with　whistles　blowing　as　a　rejoicing；　the　natives
returned　homewards。

The　women　were　very　industrious；　and　never　went　home　empty…handed；　but
if　some　were　unfortunate　in　their　supply　of　meat