126 BIRD-HUNTING 



cartridges for the rifle are held in a leather bandolier 

 put over the waistband. The black jacket, with 

 heavy tufts of black worsted on the shoulders and 

 arms and a long black fringe hanging down the 

 back, makes a man look much bigger than he really 

 is and adds much to his imposing appearance. (I 

 was surprised to find on donning the costume what 

 a difficulty I had to squeeze myself into it.) The 

 fez is always white, either square topped, like the 

 Turkish red fez, but without the tassel, or round, 

 like a skull cap ; and round the head and under the 

 chin is wrapped a white head-cloth. The rifle is 

 carried slung over the left shoulder when on foot, 

 but a mounted man more often holds it in front of 

 him across the saddle. It is then ready for instant 

 use. 



In spite of the vendetta our host saddled his mare 

 in the morning and accompanied us on our way 

 through the forest in order to take us to two fisher- 

 men to whom he had sent word overnight, and who 

 were considered to be the most likely persons to 

 know about the Pelicans. 



It was a happy thought to send for these men, for 

 it was through them that we at last succeeded in 

 finding the Pelicans' nesting-place. Clad in loose, 

 brown garments, with keen, wild faces and piercing 

 eyes, these two fishermen resembled birds of prey. 

 They were very civil, and said at once that they 



