292 EXTRACTS FROM 
appeared, followed by three Pileated Vultures, those black 
medium-sized birds with dark bald heads which belong so 
exclusively to Africa. As I had never before seen this ex- 
tremely repulsive species, I hastened to shoot a specimen, 
and at the report of the gun the fellaheen came running up 
from all quarters curious to see what I had shot and clamorous 
for backsheesh. 
Large vultures were circling high overhead, and the best 
time of day for this kind of shooting was just beginning, so 
that we might have been very successful, but we had, never- 
theless, to retire, for we could no longer keep off the people, 
and fresh arrivals were coming up from all sides ; so we 
signalled for the steamer to near the bank and resumed our 
journey. 
At Ermant, which was reached in the afternoon, we had to 
make a short halt in order to ship the famous block of granite* ; 
and during this stoppage I had some practice at the wild 
pigeons which were flying from side to side of the river just 
over our vessel. One after another they came, and within a 
short time I managed to kill forty-six of them. 
We soon started again, and by sunset were once more at 
Luxor, and our steamer had hardly put in to the landing-place 
below the hotel, when Khalil appeared with some saddled 
donkeys, and several of us rode off to Karnak as fast as we 
could along the well-known way, intending to watch for jackals 
at various spots. 
I had taken a live fowl with me, and had sat down near one 
of the ancient tanks on the south side of the ruins, and was 
enjoying the beauty of the evening, and constantly twitching 
at my hen in order that its eries might attract the jackals, 
when, instead of these animals there unfortunately appeared 
three Englishmen, who regarded me with amazement, but soon 
went on their way. 
* An inscribed tablet of the time of Amenhotep II. Now in Vienna. 
