30 THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



in the centre of the frame, with a strap from each side, over each shoulder ; and when lie 

 arrived at the spot fixed upon for the sport, he set down the frame on its legs, took off 

 all the falcons, and tethered them to the ground in a convenient shady place. 



The bii-ds were under the particular care of four foreigners, it is beheved from Fal- 

 conswaerd, each having a bag, somewhat like a woman's pocket, tied to his waist, con- 

 taining a live pigeon as a lure, to which was fastened a long string. After waiting a 

 while, some herons passed, but at too great a distance ; at length one appeared to be 

 coming within i-each, and preparations were made for an attack on this bird. Each fal- 

 coner wore a brown leather glove on his right hand to prevent the falcon's talons from 

 scratching the wiist ; and there was a small bit of leather attached to the leg of the bird, 

 held by the falconer between the thumb and the finger. 



Two of the men being now ready, each with a falcon on his fist, and the bag with the 

 liu-e tied to the waist, and mounted on horseback, proceeded slowly in the direction 

 from whence the hei'on was flying ; and as soon as that bird was nearly opposite, though 

 at a considerable height in the air, they sUpped the hoods from off the heads of the 

 falcons, holduig them to the fist by the bit of leather, till they caught sight of the heron, 

 when the sport commenced in earnest. 



The moment they were let loose, off they went, straight as arrows, towards the heron, 

 which by this time had gone a considerable distance a-head. Dashing away towards it, 

 an unfortunate crow happened to cross their course, when one of the falcons instantly 

 darted at him, but he contrived to escape by striking into a plantation, where the falcon 

 followed, but did not take him. Another falcon soon overtook the heron, which began to 

 prepare for the threatened attack, by disgorguig two or three fishes ; while the falcon, 

 after flying rounc^ for a short time in circles, at length soared above him, and then pounc- 

 ing downwards, struck him on the back, when they both came tumbling do\vn together, 

 from a great height to the ground. 



The falcon which had lost some time in chasing the crow, was now flying with all sjiecd 

 to assist her companion, and was coming up just as the first falcon and heron were falling. 

 At this instant a rook happened to fly aci'oss, when the disappointed falcon struck at 

 liim, and they both fell together withm twenty yards of the other falcon and heron. No 

 sooner had they reached the gromid than each of the falcons began to pull its victim in 

 pieces; but as soon as the falconers could come up, the lures were thrown out, and the 

 falcons were allowed to make a meal of the pigeons, having been fasting for some hours 

 before their flight. The pigeons were placed for them on the body of the heron ; and 

 after they were satisfied, they were again hooded and put up for the day. 



The next cast consisted of two younger birds, and Avhen let loose at another heron 

 they flew up to it very well. But the heron was an old one, and was supposed to have 

 been attacked before ; for the moment he saw his enemies below, he began to soar into 

 the air, and set up a loud croak, and the two young falcons, not so experienced as the 

 two older birds, would not attack the heron, but after flying about for some time, left 

 .him. On tliis, one of the falconers set up a peculiar call, to which the birds were 

 accustomed, when one of them, from a great height in the air, immediately closed lii;^ 

 wings, and darting down to the man who called liim was taken in hand. The • other 

 falcon was not, however, so well trained or obedient, but continued to sail about in the 

 air. 



At length a heron approached, and she attacked it, I)ut without success, and soon left 

 it ; at last a third heron crossed, which she attacked ; and, after a short struggle, suc- 

 ceeded in bringing t« the ground in the same manner as in tlie first instance. This last 



