88 BIRD-HUNTING 



This first day was conclusive proof to me of the 

 sort of man I had come across ; for no sooner had 

 we finished making a rude hiding-place for me at 

 the extremity of the point than he plunged gaily 

 into the lagoon and commenced his long and arduous 

 drive. Waist-deep in water he waded across and 

 across, dodging behind islands, and sometimes lying 

 flat on one of them, driving and turning them with 

 consummate skill. But Pelicans are kittle cattle 

 to drive, and, in spite of some hours of hard work, 

 only once did they approach me within 1,000 yards. 

 Then I did a long range telephotograph of two 

 of them on a small islet about 400 yards away, 

 knowing perfectly well all the time that I was only 

 wasting a plate. However, I would have wasted 

 willingly a gross of plates rather than run any risk 

 of even appearing to lose an opportunity obtained 

 by so much labour. 



To make a long story short, and to save re- 

 cording unnecessary and trivial details, we spent a 

 fortnight searching the whole of the lagoon, wading 

 to all the numerous islets, exploring the reed-beds, 

 watching the lagoon from the neighbouring hills 

 with powerful glasses, and trying every plan we 

 could think of. It was impossible, however, to get 

 the better of their incessant watchfulness and to 

 approach them within a reasonable distance, or 

 to find out where they were nesting. I even tried 



