HUNTING AND VISITING IO7 



As in the case of the phoenix, everyone swore that there 

 were bustard, but nobody knew where. Grazioli had come 

 across two of them at the side of the road when he was run- 

 ning around in the jeep after the first disembarkation. He 

 fired at them, but without any luck. According to the teach- 

 ing of Nasi, the bustard arrive only after the rains and settle 

 beside water-holes, where they live in splendid isolation 

 sometimes for months. The rains which we had experienced, 

 although they were the only ones of the year, would certainly 

 not be able to change the environment sufficiently to attract 

 a great number of our desired prey. 



One day, however, Gigi, Tesfankièl and I set out with the 

 intention of combing the entire desert and all its gullies to 

 come upon even the feather of a bustard. And we found our- 

 selves right on top of one near some dried up holes of greenish 

 water. It was taking a walk under a thicket of acacia, all 

 alone, and was preening its rear and its featherless neck like 

 a sour old maid fully aware of a debatable attraction. 



Gigi was the first to notice her. Gripping me by the arm — I 

 had the rifle in my hand — he whispered excitedly: 'Look 

 there!' It was so far off that it looked like a sheep. I began to 

 creep. I had to cross a hundred yards of open ground before 

 reaching the thicket. After doing that successfully I got 

 behind the first tree, where I could observe that extra- 

 ordinary bird in peace. Now it looked like a miniature 

 ostrich, pale yellow in perfect camouflage. After another ten 

 yards on all fours and at about a hundred yards from the 

 bird, I decided I'd let her have it. And at that very moment 

 the bustard started to hop along. Then she took off and 

 cruised overhead, but out of range, as noisily and impres- 

 sively as a four-engined aircraft. 



It was then 3 p.m. and we followed that accursed bustard 

 until darkness fell at 8 p.m. She let us get to within two 



