‘A JOURNEY IN.THE EAST, 247 
the pleasure of giving a lesson to birds which had not become 
the least shy of the devices of Europeans. 
The caravan had marched on with the horses, servants, 
and baggage; but the sportsmen were shooting in various 
directions, when Baron Saurma shouted to us to come up to 
him, for he had discovered a large field of sugar-canes and 
wished to hunt it with the dogs. But before we could get 
room to shoot, the numerous labourers had to be sent away, 
and this was a difficult business. The guns were now to station 
themselves round the field, while Saurma, my jiiger, and the 
pack of fourteen dachshunds were to work through the canes, 
which were as high as a man. Hven before we were all at 
our posts the dogs gave tongue merrily, and a couple of shots 
were fired ; for one of the party, having a good idea of the 
right thing to do, had hurried forward at a tremendous pace, 
hoping to be the first to reach the opposite side of the field. 
Before he got there the dogs brought a large wolf out into the 
open, within a few yards of him; but as his gun was, most 
unfortunately, still loaded with small shot for plovers and 
Bufft-backed Herons, the couple of shots which he fired had no 
effect on Master “ Isegrimm,” who scurried across the bare 
country to the next standing fields. 
The dogs were soon scouring all parts of the canes in full 
cry, and there was plenty of firing, two of the sportsmen 
having twice shot at wolves, but without any success, for the 
cunning brutes only just showed themselves outside the 
cover, and instantly vanished into it again, while many chance 
shots were fired at them as they were rushing through the 
dense canes. However, the frequent baying of the dogs and 
the traces of blood showed that several of the shots had taken 
effect, and some of the guns were so overcome by excitement, 
that they left their posts, and tried to reach the places where 
the dogs were baying ; but, as one could hardly see a couple 
of paces in front, these were but vain attempts. 
