380 EXTRACTS FROM 
long tramp across the steppe to a reedy swamp, which the 
Sheikh described as a splendid place. From the grass of the 
steppe we first flushed a few Quail, and then a flock of Stone- 
Curlews. The nearer we got to the reeds, which were visible 
a long way off, the thicker grew the bushes, and from among 
them there jumped up two singular little animals, smaller 
than Roe, yellowish in colour, with roe-like horns, and the 
lopping gait and long tail of the Fallow Deer; but they were 
unfortunately so far off that we could not get a good shot at 
them. The outskirts of the reed-bed consisted of marshy 
places covered with high green sedge, and in this boggy 
ground we shot some handsomely-coloured Francolin cocks 
and a hen with plain brown plumage, like that of the hen 
Pheasant. 
The Grand Duke was now despatched to the further side 
of this forest of pale yellow reeds, while I pushed into it with 
the Bedouins. The reeds and sedge were above the height 
of aman, and closed over our heads as we waded through 
bog, marsh, mire, and the mould of decaying plants nearly up 
to our knees. After a long tramp through this abominable 
ground, which swarmed with toads, I reached an open space, 
where the Bedouins wished me to await the further course of 
the hunt. I was standing in the water, with myriads of 
disgusting insects swarming round me, and the place was so 
thoroughly disagreeable, that I shall not forget it in a hurry. 
The Arabs now tried to beat the reeds in all directions; but 
all our trouble was in vain, for though we heard the wild 
boars crashing through the brake, not one of them would 
leave the protection of the cover, and only a few Purple 
Herons flew lazily round us. I therefore tried to get out of 
this horrible place as quickly as possible, for I already felt 
that I had inhaled too much of the malarious air of the marsh 
and the exhalations of decaying matter, but in the evening I 
was to experience their evil effects more fully. The Grand 
