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near them, shooting in this part of the world being a very 

 uncertain amusement, for the Greeks, like the Italians, kill 

 and devour everything. 



At last, after much trouble, I managed to bag a Pygmy 

 Cormorant, and contenting ourselves with this we. returned 

 homewards somewhat consoled for the lack of sport by a 

 beautiful view of the green coast of Benizza and the lofty 

 Hagi Deka mountain. 



On the 13th we resumed our voyage, but a violent gale 

 compelled us to put into Zante; and as the storm continued to 

 rage, I utilized the unavoidable delay by spending the day on 

 the island and ascending the high mountain of Skopos. 



It was a toilsome and uninteresting climb and the sun 

 burned fiercely, while we might have saved ourselves the 

 trouble of carrying our guns, for there was no game, 

 even birds were scarce, and we saw nothing but a few 

 Central-European forms, which were here in their winter- 

 quarters. 



Even on the 15th the weather did not allow of our weighing 

 anchor, so we set out early in the morning and made for the 

 northern point of the island, and on reaching it had a splendid 

 view. To the north lay beautiful Cephalonia, and just in front 

 of us was a deep valley wooded with rustling oaks, in the 

 midst of which stood a charmingly situated monastery almost 

 hidden by the high hillsides. 



We inspected the chapel belonging to it, which seemed to 

 be a great place of pilgrimage, for it was richly adorned 

 with many gilded reliquaries and dusky pictures of saints. 

 Some of the priests then kindly invited us to take luncheon 

 in the monastery, and on our inquiring about the sporting 

 resources of the island, the holy men at once proposed a hunt 

 for hares; so, as soon as lunch was over, we set out under the 

 guidance of the youngest priest, who was attired in a short 

 frock, wide blue trousers, and slippers ; the priestly biretta 



