THE RAINS 135 



circle ascending higher and higher, till at length they 

 are lost to view or can be discerned only as the faintest 

 specks. There is something even majestic in their 

 flight, it is so steady, so even, so apparently effortless. 

 The expanded wings hardly ever appear to move ; the 

 bird seems to ascend by its own mere volition. 



The kites and hawks fly lower, and sweep round 

 in smaller circles, and their flight is less calm and even. 

 Every now and again, as I watch them, one will drop 

 like a stone, shoot along the surface of the ground 

 with the rapidity of an arrow, and then as quickly re- 

 ascend. The kite has discerned some food or prey ; he 

 has swooped down and seized it, and is now bearing it 

 aloft. 



The sight of these birds is so keen, and their down- 

 ward dart so rapid, that it is unsafe to carry anything 

 eatable exposed where many of them are flying above. 

 Of this I once had an experience that might have 

 had a sad termination. It was in another station, and 

 one more to the eastward, and where the kites especially 

 abounded. One afternoon in the cold season I walked 

 out into the garden, carrying my little girl in my arms ; 

 she was holding a crust of bread in her hand. One 

 of the servants immediately ran after me, and pointing 

 to the kites hovering above, begged me to throw away 

 the bread or return at once to the house. He had 

 hardly finished speaking, when I heard a rushing sound, 

 felt a blow on my hat, and saw a large kite dart by 

 before me. The servant had waved his stick and 

 shouted ; the noise and waving of the stick caused 

 the kite to swerve, otherwise the child might have 



