36 IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 



condescend to give us a shot, though the dogs 

 found and hunted several. 



Next day was to be devoted to an excursion to 

 Vrana. The priest had kindly introduced us to a 

 local landed proprietor, Pelicaric by name. He 

 promised to drive us out there at daylight. 



Vrana is some five miles from Pakostane. The 

 road to it passes round the northern end of the 

 largest Dalmatian lake — also called Vrana — and 

 runs along a beautifully shaded causeway between 

 the water and the marshes. These latter extend 

 many miles to the northward, and account for the 

 fever which plays such havoc with the popula- 

 tion. The lake itself is about nine miles long, 

 and the whole district provides the best shooting 

 in Northern Dalmatia. Even at this time it was 

 literally covered with duck, but in winter there 

 are immense quantities of woodcock and snipe, 

 besides other migrants rare to us in England, such 

 as wild geese and swans. I was also told wild 

 boar come down every winter, but I have some 

 doubts as to the accuracy of this statement. 



Seen across the lake Vrana appears a place of 

 some size, but when approached nearer turns out 

 to be principally ruins — a few scattered huts con- 

 taining a population of some three hundred souls, 

 all lantern -jawed and yellow with fever. The 

 principal ruin is that of a large castle, built by 

 the Templars, but soon afterwards taken by the 



