Hunting in Many Lands 



name than the others already traveled. The 

 Amerikanka was drawn by four horses abreast. 

 The road in places follows the River Leet, on 

 which Philipovo is situated. We had expected 

 to proceed immediately to hunt the wolves, 

 and nearly 300 peasant men and women had 

 been engaged to aid the fox-hounds as beaters. 

 They had been assembled from far and near, 

 and were congregated in the only street of 

 Philipovo, in front of our future quarters, to 

 await our arrival. What a motley assembly, 

 what brilliancy of coloring ! All were armed 

 with sticks, and carried bags or cloths contain- 

 ing their rations of rye bread swung from the 

 shoulders, or around the neck and over the 

 back. How many pairs of boots were hung 

 over the shoulders ? Was it really the custom 

 to wear boots on the shoulders? In any case 

 it was de rigueur that each one show that he 

 or she possessed such a luxury as a good pair 

 of high top boots ; but it was not a luxury to 

 be abused or recklessly worn out. Their sys- 

 tem of foot-gear has its advantages in that the 

 same pair may be used by several members of 

 a family, male and female alike. 



It was not a pleasure for us to hear that the 

 wolves had been at home at twilight and mid- 



i8o 



