146 BIRD-HUNTING 



his son and daughters. Perhaps compared with 

 hotels in other cities it had its shortcomings ; but 

 considering the state of things outside it was a 

 perfect oasis of comfort. And inside one felt safe, 

 which, to tell the truth, I never once did outside the 

 door. The Hotel de l'Europe in Scutari, in Albania, 

 is quite a pleasant recollection. 



One day, hearing a great uproar in the street, I 

 looked out and saw a powerfully-built mountaineer 

 being marched along, firmly held on each side by 

 two men. He was struggling violently and doing 

 his best to get at his revolver. Behind them walked 

 six soldiers with loaded rifles ready to shoot him the 

 moment he should break away. It seemed he had 

 gone into a cafe very drunk, and had started to 

 throw the furniture about and to smash the crockery. 

 On the proprietor objecting to this behaviour he 

 had drawn his revolver and fired at him. 



The mountaineers coming into the town are 

 required to give up their rifles at the guard-house 

 outside, but as they always have a revolver in their 

 waistcloth this does not do much good. On bazaar 

 days it is a curious and interesting sight to see these 

 wild-looking people flocking into the town. On 

 horseback and on foot they come in droves, driving- 

 small and shaggy ponies laden with firewood. Some 

 of the younger women ride astride, the older ones 

 stagger in on foot, veritable beasts of burden. I 



