290 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



our people and baggage-animals, and then returned 

 to the ambuscade ; Chineah, Naga, and Googooloo 

 accompanying us, to keep a look-out for game, as 

 we ourselves felt too fatigued with our day's fag to 

 depend much on our watchfulness. 



As a light air was blowing from us across the 

 water, and we were perfectly concealed from view, 

 some ten feet above the level of the ground, there 

 was no danger of the scent of tobacco being 

 " winded " from the jungle, so we lighted our che- 

 roots, (a most unorthodox proceeding when lying 

 in ambuscade for large game,) and amused our- 

 selves with observing the different species of animal- 

 life that frequented that lonely spot. 



The margin of the lake was visited from time to 

 time by different kinds of aquatic birds and water- 

 fowl ; amongst which I noticed a flock of flamingoes 

 with their magnificent rose-coloured plumage, stately 

 pelicans, besides ibises, storks, herons, egrets, plovers, 

 sand-larks, and crows, which latter birds assembled 

 in noisy groups, and seemed to revel in the luxury 

 of a bath. A toucan, with its awkward flight, was 

 seen wending its way from tree to tree in search of 

 the reptiles and small birds on which it feeds, and a 

 jungle-cock, whose plumage gleamed like gold in the 

 rays of the declining sun, came with his consorts, 

 and scratched on the ground for food within a 

 dozen yards of our hiding-place. 



Each period of the day has its accustomed visitants, 

 every hour has its " certain signs/' that can be read 



