The Wild Animals of Palestine. 69 



servant of ours was very anxious to achieve the distinction of 

 shooting a gazelle, so went out from one of our encampments to 

 try for one. He shrewedly reflected that as it was very difficult 

 to go to the gazelles, it might be better to wait until they came 

 to him. He a<>cordingly chose a convenient olive tree, climbed 

 into it, and sat down to meditate and wait. After a while the 

 gazelles did come, and began to pick up some scanty herbage 

 under this very tree, but the Roumanian's meditations had ended 

 in profound slumber. Meantime another occupant of the camp 

 had also gone out after gazelles, a Turk, who was an excellent 

 shot, and oftener brought one home than anyone else. He had 

 been stalking this very herd, and when they paused under the 

 olive tree was just getting within range. But at that critical 

 moment the slumbering sportsman lost his balance and descended 

 flat on his back among the gazelles he had been so anxiously 

 awaiting. His gun remained in the tree ; he consequently could 

 not fire at the flying game, and the Turk could not, because the 

 Roumanian was exactly in the line of fire. But the story had a 

 sequel. The Turk retired in disgust, unobserved ; the Roumanian 

 went ofl" in search of better luck, which he met in the shape of 

 some arabs who had shot a gazelle. From them he bought it, 

 and returned to the camp with the airs of a mighty nimrod, 

 graphically describing his long wait, and the arrival of the 

 gaaelles, and his successful shot. But just as he was telling his 

 tale the Turk appeared with his version of the story, and the 

 unfortunate Roumanian found himself in the unpleasant position 

 of an exposed imposter. 



Reptiles. 



It was the reptile and insect class which rendered life in 

 Palestine full of interest, the reptiles especially making camp 

 life exciting. Snakes in Palestine are not dangerous, the larger 

 ones sometimes attained a length of 8 or 9 feet, but were harm- 

 less, as also were the smaller ones, which were more objectionable 

 from a tendency they have to creep into beds if they can get a 

 chance. I do not believe anyone knows how quickly he can get 

 out of bed until he has got in to find a lively snake already in 

 possession. We never thought in camp of getting into bed 

 without the clothes being completely thrown back to be sure no 

 reptile was ensconced. Scorpions were plentiful, but not very 

 dangerous. The only case of scorpion sting I ever knew was 



