380 EXTRACTS FROM 



long tramp across the steppe to a reedy swamp, which the 

 Sheikh described as a splendid place. From the grass of the 

 steppe we first flushed a few Quail, and then a flock of Stone- 

 Curlews. The nearer we got to the reeds, which were visible 

 a long way off, the thicker grew the bushes, and from among 

 them there jumped up two singular little animals, smaller 

 than Roe, yellowish in colour, with roe-like horns, and the 

 lopping gait and long tail of the Fallow Deer; but they were 

 unfortunately so far off that we could not get a good shot at 

 them. The outskirts of the reed-bed consisted of marshy 

 places covered with high green sedge, and in this boggy 

 ground we shot some handsomely-coloured Francolin cocks 

 and a hen with plain brown plumage, like that of the hen 

 Pheasant. 



The Grand Duke was now despatched to the further side 

 of this forest of pale yellow reeds, while I pushed into it with 

 the Bedouins. The reeds and sedge were above the height 

 of a man, and closed over our heads as we waded through 

 bog, marsh, mire, and the mould of decaying plants nearly up 

 to our knees. After a long tramp through this abominable 

 ground, which swarmed with toads, I reached an open space, 

 where the Bedouins wished me to await the further course of 

 the hunt. I was standing in the water, with myriads of 

 disgusting insects swarming round me, and the place was so 

 thoroughly disagreeable, that I shall not forget it in a hurry. 

 The Arabs now tried to beat the reeds in all directions ; but 

 all our trouble was in vain, for though we heard the wild 

 boars crashing through the brake, not one of them would 

 leave the protection of the cover, and only a few Purple 

 Herons flew lazily round us. I therefore tried to get out of 

 this horrible place as quickly as possible, for I already felt 

 that I had inhaled too much of the malarious air of the marsh 

 and the exhalations of decaying matter, but in the evening I 

 was to experience their evil effects more fully. The Grand 



