THE ECCENTRICITIES OF < UNCLE SAM: 9; 



accept his explanation that they were apt to get excited 

 and fight in earnest, and that they would not like to do 

 this in so dim a light 



Coke's buffalo fell an easy victim to his ten-bore 

 smooth-bore, for he was able to stalk within seven yards 

 of it whilst it was feeding in the high grass. Said is 

 very different to the other hunters, and was originally 

 brought as a slave from the Blue Nile. He is quite 

 black, and, with his short woolly hair and nigger features, 

 he is so like ' Uncle Sam,' that we have christened him 

 accordingly. He has several little special ways of his 

 own which afford his master considerable amusement in 

 their daily wanderings together. To-day, Uncle Sam 

 stopped at the tomb of a Sheik, prayed for some time, 

 and having pulled out some hair from his horse's tail, 

 put them on a stick over the tomb, and then continued 

 the hunt. This performance, interpreted by Albert, was 

 a special prayer and offering to this Sheik to give him 

 good luck, as he had been several hours without showing 

 his master any game ; and as the buffalo was shot soon 

 afterwards, Uncle Sam was no doubt quite satisfied with 

 the efficacy of his prayers to the dead Sheik. Vivian 

 tried his luck fishing this morning, and in a short time 

 hooked five turtle ; but, his tackle not being exactly fitted 

 for this kind of sport, he lost four. The fifth was safely 

 landed, however, and turned over on his back to wait for 

 further orders ; but in the meantime, whilst Mohamed 



