124 EEMINISCENCES OP A SPORTSMAX. 



number worked like a galley slave, until my hands were 

 so blistered I was obliged to give in. A light breeze 

 springing up, to my great satisfaction, we soon reached 

 our destination. Finding that we had a clean bill of 

 health, I was allowed to land with my servant, baggage, 

 and brace of pointers, and made the best of my way to 

 Mr. Hill's house. He received me most kindly, and in- 

 troduced me to his Secretary of Legation, who was par- 

 ticularly prepossessing in his appearance. I had also a 

 cordial greeting from my friend ^Nlajor Sutton. Twenty- 

 four hom-s under the hosiDitable roof of our minister 

 were sufficient to convince me that I was in clover. Mr. 

 Hill's establishment was on the most liberal scale, and a 

 bon vivant would have been puzzled to find any fault 

 with his cuisine, a first and second French cook forming 

 part of it, and his wines, being of excellent quality. I 

 brought with me an ample supply of ammunition for the 

 field, which in Cagliari was of a very inferior description. 

 As our daily excursions sometimes extended to seven or 

 eight miles from the capital, I purchased a strong cob. 

 The Sardinian horses may be had at moderate prices, and 

 are in general strong, clever, active nags. 



We now prepared for an attack on birds and beasts ; 

 and our party first commenced operations within three 

 or four miles of Cagliari. On some days we had toler- 

 ably good sport, bringing home a few brace of red-legged 

 partridges (which I had never before seen), quails, 

 snipes, and occasionally a brace or two of woodcocks. 

 Hares were scarce in this part of the country ; I sus- 

 pect they were snared, and I never saw a rabbit in the 

 island. A month earlier the shooting must have been 

 much better, for Mr. Hill, Sutton, and the Secretary had 

 rather thinned the game in this district. It was a cham- 



