352 EXTRACTS FROM. 



but nothing came except some Egyptian Vultures, and at 

 them we had no desire to shoot. The flight of the larger 

 birds of prey began towards the forenoon ; but they kept on 

 in a direct line to Jerusalem, for no bait has sufficient 

 attractions to make them deviate from their course. 



We scrambled down again to the camp by the shortest way 

 without having shot anything, and found that the tents had 

 meanwhile been struck, and that the greater part of the 

 caravan was already moving on. Only a portion of the cook's 

 battery had been left, and a scanty lunch wherewith to recruit 

 ourselves for our further journey. The gentlemen had shot a 

 considerable number of pigeons in the ravine, and had also 

 killed some hawks and various smaller birds. 



After a frugal meal we took leave of Count Caboga, to 

 whose kindness we were much indebted. He intended to 

 return to Tantur the same day, but lent me for all the rest 

 of our journey his servant Ferdinand, and the good horse 

 which I had been daily riding since our entry into Jerusalem. 

 It was a marvellously fine Arab stallion that he had bought 

 from a Bedouin tribe, and I was most grateful to the Count 

 for this attention, as the handsome animal was very sure- 

 footed on the hills, unusually fleet on the plains, and inured 

 both to hard work by day and exposure by night. 



As soon as every one was mounted our train moved forward 

 with the Bedouins at its head. At first the character of the 

 country was like that near our camping-ground, but the 

 valley soon became narrower, the hillsides higher, and 

 instead of grass alone, we had to ride over bare yellow soil 

 and flat smooth slabs of rock. In the midst of this wilderness 

 two Storks were standing on a little patch of grass surrounded 

 by rocks, and one of them I shot as it rose. They were pro- 

 bably on migration, and taking a rest by the way. 



The path was exceedingly difficult for the horses, and they 

 had to go very cautiously, for the ground was of such a 



