THE PRODUCE OF THE SPORT. 69 



requiring a considerable quantity of water to clear 

 away the remains of the mud, through which we 

 have been the whole day more or less perambu- 

 lating. The guardians dress themselves, and at 

 the same time watch closely that no communi- 

 cation takes place with any of the inhabitants. 



Then, the toilettes completed, we push off to 

 our respective vessels, part to dine on board the 

 man-of-war, and part on board the Lord High 

 Commissioner's schooner. Dinner is most wel- 

 come, and soon makes its appearance, but the 

 return of killed is always made up before the 

 soup is eaten. Each sportsman tells what he 

 has in his bag, which is recorded in a book kept 

 for that purpose on board the yacht. This is the 

 news time for all. The jealous sportsmen are 

 anxious to have a high place on the list ; others, 

 more generous, care not for themselves, provided 

 the general bag be well filled. For the birds 

 which they may be allowed to number, some are 

 indebted to their own guns, and the straightness 

 of their eyes; some, to the excellence of their 

 retrievers, in bringing to their bags many birds 

 w hich the unfortunate sportsman who shot looked 

 for in vain; and some, to their good fortune in 



