EGYPTIAN FOWLING. 27 



On the wild-fowl rising- suddenly from the water, or approaching in 

 their flight within range, the fowler threw his missile with such force 

 and precision as to break the neck of the "bird aimed at. And it 

 would appear that an expert fowler was able to discharge three or 

 more of these missiles, one after another, in rapid succession, and 

 with unerring effect. To assist him in his dexterous performances, 

 it was the duty of one of his attendants to hand him other " throw- 

 sticks" in instantaneous succession, as he discharged them at the 

 birds.* 



Another attendant, who is represented as a young girl, stands close 

 behind the fowler during his performances, and has her right hand 

 firmly grasping his waist ; evidently for the purpose of supporting and 

 steadying him in his critical position as he stands in the boat, and so 

 preventing any overbalance caused by extraordinary exertion in 

 throwing the stick j and whereby, but for the temporary fulcrum of 

 the attendant's hand, the fowler might fall overboard. Another 

 attendant holds his leg, as if for the additional purpose of steadying 

 his position and preventing his falling over the gunwale of the boat in 

 which these operations are conducted. The boat itself is also held, as 

 if by a temporary anchor, by the hand of one of the crew gTasping a 

 bunch of growing papyrus or lotus. 



The fowler is also represented as attended by a cat, in the act of 

 retrieving the struck birds; but this feline assistant was probably 

 employed to retrieve those only which fell on land, or among sedges 

 growing on a soil too rotten to bear the weight of human foot. It 

 is impossible to imagine that the Egyptians, with all their re- 

 nowned skill in training animals, could have so taught a cat as to 

 employ it for retrieving from the water an element always obnoxious 

 to such animals ; and, as there are no illustrations of the cat swim- 

 ming in pursuit of the fowler's game, though there are several 

 showing it retrieving water-fowl from the papyrus and banks of the 

 water, we are disposed to believe the services of this domestic 

 attendant were employed exclusively to retrieve on land, and from 

 such unapproachable places as those already alluded to. 



* A revival of this ancient art of fowling is particularly recommended to the 

 attention of those infatuated with the popular game of " Aunt Sally," as one 

 requiring similar skill, but far more worthy the notice of English sportsmen, and 

 claiming far greater title to the character of sport. 



Sir J. G. Wilkinson states, in a note to his amusing work, that the Irish frequently 

 use the " throw-stick" for the purposes of fowling, after the manner of the ancient 

 Egyptians. 



