JUNGLE-FOWL. 139 



since the bird's operations. Thus far it is easy 

 enough ; but to reach the eggs requires no little 

 exertion and perseverance. The natives dig them 

 up with their hands alone, and only make suffici- 

 ent room to admit their bodies, and to throw out 

 the earth between their legs ; by grubbing with 

 their fingers alone, they are enabled to follow the 

 direction of the hole with greater certainty. This 

 will, sometimes, at a depth of several feet, turn off 

 abruptly at right angles ; its direct course being 

 obstructed by a clump of wood or some other im- 

 pediment. Their patience, however, is often put 

 to severe trials. In the present instance, the na- 

 tive dug down six times, in succession, to a depth 

 of at least six or seven feet without finding an egg, 

 and at the last attempt came up in such a state of 

 exhaustion that he refused to proceed, Mr. Gilbert 

 was too much excited to relinquish this opportu- 

 nity of verifying the statements of the natives. 

 He, therefore, by the offer of an additional re- 

 ward, induced him to try again. The seventh trial 

 proved successful, when the native, with equal 

 pride and satisfaction, held up an egg, and, after 

 two or three more attempts, produced a second ; 

 thus proving, how cautious Europeans should be in 

 disregarding the narratives of these poor children 

 of nature, because they appear extraordinary, or 

 different from anything with which they were pre- 

 viously acquainted. 



