76 BIRD-HUNTING 



and they told us very plainly, through Djouraschko- 

 vitch, who acted as interpreter, to go. During the 

 discussion one of them, an evil-looking ruffian, the 

 most unprepossessing of the three, all of whom 

 looked very murderous blackguards, sat down and 

 deliberately pointed his loaded rifle at my head 

 at a distance of about six yards. I have often 

 wondered since what his intention was ; I don't 

 know whether he meant to shoot, or whether, per- 

 haps, he thought to frighten me. At any rate I 

 took it as a joke, and, turning my camera at him, 

 pretended to take his photograph. I wish I had 

 done so in reality, it would have been an interesting 

 photograph to have, but, unfortunately, I had no 

 plate ready at the time for instant action. 



However, we had to go, there was no help for 

 it ; and after seeing the Pelicans of which I was in 

 search, further pursuit of them had to be abandoned, 

 at all events in this particular locality, and we 

 returned the next day to the town. 



My quarters in the little inn proved to be very 

 comfortable, and the cooking, though plain and 

 simple, was good. The mutton from the small 

 sheep of the country, fed on the salt marshes near 

 the sea, was excellent, and the wine good and 

 cheap. It being Lent, my men absolutely refused 

 to touch meat or wine, and ate only bread and 

 vegetables enough to keep themselves alive. The 



