32 SOME BIRDS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS 



valley these camels would raise their heads and stand 

 looking at us, not resuming their grazing until we had 

 left them some distance behind. On our way back to 

 La Oliva in the evening we passed at intervals a flock 

 of goats and one or two camels being driven desultorily 

 home by some small boy ; the camels seemed obedient 

 enough and were quite at large, though had they taken 

 it into their heads to rebel against their diminutive guide 

 I am afraid there would not have been much of him left 

 to tell the tale. I think nothing lowers one's self-esteem 

 more than being met by a camel ; it is not merely the 

 fact of being cut, though that is bad enough, but some- 

 how they give you the idea that you are not there at all, 

 gazing the while at the distant mountain tops, as they 

 swing quietly along, with an intensely interested and 

 preoccupied air. One feels as though one had been 

 passed through, not merely passed by. 



On nearing La Oliva for the last time we stopped to 

 rest and have a smoke by the way, and talk over our 

 chances of success in the southern part of the island, 

 until we were reminded that the day was drawing to a 

 close by our friends of the wayside now passing us, 

 the camels stalking along with an expression of smug 

 complacency, while the goats, with frequent bleats and 

 tinklings of many bells, scrambled hither and thither on 

 either side of the path, nibbling at what scant herbage 

 they could find. 



