352 EXTRACTS FROM 
but nothing came except some Hgyptian Vultures, and at 
them we had no desire to shoot. The flight of the larger 
birds of prey began towards the forenoon; but they kept on 
in a direct line to Jerusalem, for no bait has sufficient 
attractions to make them deviate from their course. 
We scrambled down again to the camp by the shortest way 
without having shot anything, and found that the tents had 
meanwhile been struck, and that the greater part of the 
caravan was already moving on. Only a portion of the cook’s 
battery had been left, and a scanty lunch wherewith to recruit 
ourselves for our further journey. The gentlemen had shot a 
considerable number of pigeons in the ravine, and had also 
killed some hawks and various smaller birds. 
After a frugal meal we took leave of Count Caboga, to 
whose kindness we were much indebted. He intended to 
return to Tantur the same day, but lent me for all the rest 
of our journey his servant Ferdinand, and the good horse 
which I had been daily riding since our entry into Jerusalem. 
It was a marvellously fine Arab stallion that he had bought 
from a Bedouin tribe, and I was most grateful to the Count 
for this attention, as the handsome animal was very sure- 
footed on the hills, unusually fleet on the plains, and inured 
both to hard work by day and exposure by night. 
As soon as every one was mounted our train moved forward 
with the Bedouins at its head. At first the character of the 
country was like that near our camping-ground, but the 
valley soon became narrower, the hillsides higher, and 
instead of grass alone, we had to ride over bare yellow soil 
and flat smooth slabs of rock. In the midst of this wilderness 
two Storks were standing ona little patch of grass surrounded 
by rocks, and one of them I shot as it rose. They were pro- 
bably on migration, and taking a rest by the way. 
The path was exceedingly difficult for the horses, and they 
had to go very cautiously, for the ground was of such a 
