26 CONSUL AT DAMIETTA. 



so that I allowed myself once more to be beguiled into 

 another search for duck. This time I started in a small boat 

 made of reeds, and, passing through a narrow channel, got 

 into the clear water in the centre of the lake. Again I was 

 disappointed ; not a bird was to be seen ; but being out 

 there, I determined to spend half an hour punting round the 

 edge of the reeds, but all to no purpose ; there were no wild- 

 fowl, and again the serenity of my temper was disturbed. 

 1 could not, however, resist laughing at the explanation of 

 my guide, as, laying his head upon his hand, and pointing 

 with the other to the bottom of the lake, he told me that 

 they were all asleep down there during the heat of the day, 

 but that they would come up again in the evening. I heard 

 afterwards, on good authority, that they do come to this 

 lake in great numbers earlier in the season. Ducks are cer- 

 tainly extremely abundant in the neighbourhood; for that 

 evening we saw what we at first took to be a thunder-cloud, 

 but what proved to be an immense flock of wildfowl, and 

 I saw similar flocks upon several occasions towards flight- 

 time, but could never get within range. 



The pretty White-tailed Plover, Chettusia leucura, though 

 formerly considered rare, is abundant about this lake, as well 

 as near Alexandria and in the Fayoom. Having beaten 

 the greater part of the ground, we leave this place and 

 stop at Damietta, where we dine with the Consul in the 

 true Egyptian style. He lives in a large house surrounded 

 by a garden fragrant with orange-blossoms and bright with 

 gaily coloured flowers. The dinner consists of a great variety 

 of dishes, chiefly minces, hashes, and vegetables of many 

 kinds. Although, like a true Mahomedan, he does not drink 

 wine himself, he does not impose the same restriction on his 



