32 SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 



Francolin partridges pecking about the camping 

 eround ; I killed one and wounded another. H. had 

 just come in, and as the wounded bird rocketed 

 over his head he knocked it down. H. also shot a 

 small brown duck. I had tried to get some of 

 the little sand-grouse as they came down to drink ; 

 but these little birds only come down just as it is 

 getting dusk, and settle quickly on the ground, 

 uttering their peculiar plaintive cry. It was almost 

 impossible to discern them in the fading light, and as 

 I wanted to get a pot shot into the "brown" of them 

 as they were on the ground, for the cook to prepare for 

 our breakfast next morning, I waited too long, the 

 light failed, and I had to give up my intention. 



We were camped on the shingle of the river, which, 

 although it is always a very dry, clean spot, and 

 free from insects, has this disadvantage, that the 

 iron legs of the camp-beds sink rather far into the 

 ground ; and sometimes one wakes up finding oneself 

 in a slanting position, with the head lower than the 

 legs. 



Jail. 4. — This morning we were on the move early, 

 having left at 6.45 for Ailet. It was a lovely, cloudy 

 day, which is a thing that one knows how to appre- 

 ciate in an Eastern climate. The country became 

 much greener as we approached Ailet ; this village lies 

 in a valley which is exceedingly fertile — that is to say^ 



