280 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



and to remain perfectly still and well doubled up, otherwise, 

 \ipon the slightest movement, the upper covering is certain to 

 roll off, exposing you to the cold, which is pretty severe in 

 this country, or, owing to its extreme brevity, the legs pro- 

 ject some distance beyond it, and suffer equally from exposure. 

 Should you, however, be enabled on a first experiment, and 

 by a careful adjustment of the limbs, to accomplish this 

 sandwich-like position, buried between two mountains of 

 feathers, you feel not only nearly suffocated, but undergo all 

 the effects and sensations of a vapour-bath. In fact, like 

 Milton's description of the infernal regions, you are ever 

 between the extremes of heat and cold. No better illustra- 

 tion can be given of a patient under this treatment than an 

 excellent one on this subject contained in that amusing little 

 volume, Hood's Up and Down the Rhine, and no system for 

 sweating down a jockey or a prize-fighter could, I imagine, be 

 possibly more effective. 



Weakened as much by the effects of this terrible night as 

 by a two months' fever, I had scarcely strength enough left 

 to carry my rifle. Happily, I had not much fatigue to 

 undergo. We commenced operations by a species of sport, 

 which, like a Prussian bed, has no resemblance to any other, 

 and which takes place neither on foot or on horseback, but in 

 a carriage, and is here called purschen. Two chasseurs, 

 occupying the hind seat of a small double char-a-banc, and 

 driven by a coachman, so that they can command each side 

 of the road, are conducted through the woods without taking 

 any other precaution than that of complete silence. A pipe 

 or cigar, indeed, is not prohibited, without which no German 

 could exist two hours together. Notwithstanding the noise 

 of the wheels, and the crashing of the branches, this equipage 

 causes less terror to the wild animals of the forest than 

 the sight of a single human being. Shots are easily obtained 

 in this manner at stags and roebucks, which the Germans 



