200 BIRD-HUNTING 



calibre, so I gave up the single barrel and stuck to 

 the revolver. A walking-stick collecting gun which 

 I had in my hand was not recognized, and con- 

 sequently escaped ; but all the other weapons and a 

 number of cartridges were confiscated in spite of all 

 I could say or do. 



Baron B took me up to the Consulate for 



breakfast and introduced me to the Baroness his 

 mother, and to his sister, who were staying with him 

 for a short visit on their way back from Corfu. But 

 he advised me to proceed at once by the same 

 steamer to Corfu to investigate the Lammergeier, 

 and return to Durazzo later. If I had known this 

 before I need not have landed my luggage at all, 

 and so should have saved a lot of bother. For the 

 Customs officials positively refused to restore the 

 guns, although I was leaving the country, and I was 

 obliged to leave them in their clutches, and proceed 

 to Corfu without them. 



Baron B , however, promised to do his best 



to effect their release, and I lost no time in writing 

 to the British Consul in Scutari, whom I met last 

 year, and to the Embassy at Constantinople. And 

 on arrival at Corfu my first step was to interview 

 there the British Consul, who took me to see the 

 Turkish Consul. 



All this combined influence brought to bear on 

 the Turkish Customs was not without its due effect, 



