A PLEASAXT PARTY. 127 



Mr. Hill had three country houses in different parts 

 of the island. One of these was a Bishop's palace, 

 although, to say the truth, it scarcely deserved so grand 

 a denomination. Nevertheless, as sportsmen, it afforded 

 us a comfortable lodging. As Mr. Hill was exceedingly 

 fond of shooting and boar-hunting, he was in the habit 

 of going to his different chateaux de chasse, and after 

 thinning the game in one district, he repaired with his 

 friends to another. 



On these occasions a four-wheeled carriage on springs 

 accompanied him, carrying the two French cooks, the 

 batterie de cuisine, and an ample supply of provisions 

 and wanes which were not to be procm-ed in the country, 

 depending on our guns for the addition of game, wild 

 fowl, &c. It may naturally be concluded that after the 

 day's labours we did justice to the French cook's talents, 

 and enjoyed the hospitality of our host. After having 

 paid our respects to the royal family, Mr. Hill pro- 

 posed that we should go to one of his country houses on 

 the eastern side of the Grulf of Cagliari, distant about 

 ten miles, where he said we should have tolerable 

 shooting at red-legged partridges, and as there were 

 extensive swamps in that part of the country, the snipe 

 shooting would be excellent. What was very conducive 

 in affording us good sport when in pm-suit of the red- 

 legged partridges, was, that there were low covers of the 

 wild myrtle, prickly pear, and other shrubs. These 

 cunning birds, taking refuge in these asylums, afforded 

 us good shooting when we had scattered the covers, 

 and we sometimes brought home seven or eight 

 brace of birds. The snipes were in such abundance that 

 we were frequently obliged to desist shooting, in order 

 K i 



