‘A JOURNEY IN THE EAST; 319 
We had to look at every bit of it, and were conducted over 
the fort as well; and after our inspection went home in the 
steamer, stopping on the way and rambling with our guns 
through a long narrow island covered with sand and studded 
with clumps of thick bushes. There I shot a specimen of the 
beautiful Pallid Harrier and a few small water-birds. 
This island is separated from the mainland by a muddy 
branch of the river, so shallow that the great flocks of sheep 
and goats which feed on its bushes can easily be driven over. 
On its banks we also found some most miserable fishing-huts; 
but we soon left this shooting-ground and returned to the 
steamer, lunching on our way home. 
On the morning of the 23rd, I drove through the town and 
the Arab quarter to the tombs of the Caliphs. At the outer- 
most houses where the carriage road ends we mounted 
donkeys, and riding through the cemetery soon reached the 
foot of the high cliffs of the Mokattam hills. We had 
now again to follow the same path that we had trodden some 
weeks before, and, climbing up the cliffs, were soon seated in 
the small and very uncomfortable ambush. 
After three long hours of perfect quiet some Kites and 
Egyptian Vultures appeared, and these creatures were just in 
the middle of their meal, when I heard the heavy flapping 
of some great bird’s wings. ‘The smaller visitors at once 
dispersed in alarm, and a large Griffon Vulture settled with 
half-closed wings on the back of the ass, and forthwith began 
its breakfast. 
Without a moment’s delay I knocked it over, and creeping 
out of the cave took the heavy bird on my back and clambered 
down the crags, rocks, and loose stones to the spot where the 
servants were waiting with the donkeys. Thence we pro- 
ceeded homewards, and returned to Kasr-el-Nusha by noon. 
After lunch and a short rest the Grand Duke and I resolved 
to pay a visit to the Shibra gardens; so, taking our guns with 
