'A JOURNEY IN THE EAST: 247 



the pleasure of giving a lesson to birds which had not become 

 the least shy of the devices of Europeans. 



The caravan had marched on with the horses, servants, 

 and baggage ; but the sportsmen were shooting in various 

 directions, when Baron Saurma shouted to us to come up to 

 him, for he had discovered a large field of sugar-canes and 

 wished to hunt it with the dogs. But before we could get 

 room to shoot, the numerous labourers had to be sent away, 

 and this was a difficult business. The guns were now to station 

 themselves round the field, while Saurma, my jager, and the 

 pack of fourteen dachshunds were to work through the canes, 

 which were as high as a man. Even before we were all at 

 our posts the dogs gave tongue merrily, and a couple of shots 

 were fired ; for one of the party, having a good idea of the 

 right thing to do, had hurried forward at a tremendous pace, 

 hoping to be the first to reach the opposite side of the field. 

 Before he got there the dogs brought a large wolf out into the 

 open, within a few yards of him ; but as his gun was, most 

 unfortunately, still loaded with small shot for plovers and 

 Buff-backed Herons, the couple of shots which he fired had no 

 effect on Master " Isegrimm," who scurried across the bare 

 country to the next standing fields. 



The dogs were soon scouring all parts of the canes in full 

 cry, and there was plenty of firing, two of the sportsmen 

 having twice shot at wolves, but without any success, for the 

 cunning brutes only just showed themselves outside the 

 cover, and instantly vanished into it again, while many chance 

 shots were fired at them as they were rushing through the 

 dense canes. However, the frequent baying of the dogs and 

 the traces of blood showed that several of the shots had taken 

 effect, and some of the guns were so overcome by excitement, 

 that they left their posts, and tried to reach the places where 

 the dogs were baying ; but, as one could hardly see a couple 

 of paces in front, these were but vain attempts. 



