1 A JOURNEY IN THE EAST: 253 



the camp, close to which I shot within a few minutes a couple 

 of Ospreys as they flew overhead. 



The gentlemen came back one by one, each with some 

 spoil, but Pausinger had done best, for he had hidden himself 

 behind a bush, not far from the camp, and after waiting a 

 little while a Pelican had come past flying low, and our 

 accomplished artist had brought it down with a lucky shot. 



Before relating the further incidents of the day's sport, I 

 must describe the island itself. Parts of the eastern and 

 southern shores are flat and covered with bushes, the 

 remainder formed of steep crumbling cliffs, except at the 

 most northerly point, where there is a small strip of flat coast 

 and a marsh like a miniature lagoon. 



Between the strand and the rocky cone is a perfectly level 

 tract, hardly ever more than three hundred yards broad, and 

 covered with fine sand. 



On the north side of the island this little plain is in many 

 places full of large stones and masses of rock, which have 

 become detached from the cone itself and have rolled down. 

 There all is barren, with the exception of a few bushes along 

 the shore, and not even the scantiest grass thrives. The 

 waters of the lake are perpetually undermining the friable 

 coast, so it cannot be long before there will be nothing left of 

 the whole island but the indestructible rocky cone. 



After a short rest the Grand Duke and Prince Taxis left 

 the camp, and were soon followed by Baron Saurma and 

 myself. Our plan was to divide our forces at a certain point, 

 each party taking some dachshunds, and to beat round the 

 central hill in different directions, and so meet at the north side. 

 Two Stone-Curlews got up among the first rocks, and one 

 of them I shot. The worthy Osman who was leading the 

 dogs now let them loose among the stones, and forthwith an 

 exciting, but somewhat difficult hunt began, for to follow the 



