426 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



British public should not be aware of the splendid 

 field for sport of all kinds that was within four 

 days' journey of their shores. Although I con- 

 sidered that the formation of a club for sportsmen 

 of all nations, on a permanent and substantial foun- 

 dation, was an extremely desirable project, yet I 

 foresaw that there were certain difiiculties in the 

 way which nothing but what military men would 

 term a " reconnaissance in force," would ever be 

 able successfully to surmount. I therefore proposed 

 the present trip, and, joined by a few gentlemen 

 who had the same object in view, made every pre- 

 paration for a start. Unfortunately Monsieur Jules 

 Gdrard (who would have been of great assistance) 

 was unable to accompany us, so that we had many 

 disadvantages to labour against on arrival in the 

 country ; and the weather proving unfavourable 

 during the greater part of our sojourn, "the bag" 

 was small in comparison with what might have 

 been made under more favourable circumstances. 



On Sunday afternoon, the 7th of February, 1858, 

 a number of four-wheelers were seen drawn up in 

 a row in front of a certain house, not a hundred 

 yards away from the statue of the great Napier, 

 round which a gaping crowd were assembled, and 

 from the soito voce conjectures that were made, 

 it was evident that the public had not decided 

 whether there was to be a wedding or a funeral 

 procession. 



Their suspense, however, was not of long dura- 



