of the Old World. 411 



or Russian inscriptions, and others by rude wooden 

 crosses. 



On the slope and round the base of the hill were 

 clearings in the low scrub-jungle, which at one time 

 had evidently been fenced in and cultivated, having 

 perhaps served the garrison as pasture-lands and corn- 

 fields. As I was taking a sketch of the little strong- 

 hold from one of these places, the " Hadjee" informed 

 me that he had seen several very large birds go down 

 in a patch of low jungle close at hand. From his 

 description, I imagined that they were cranes, having 

 seen several of a very large species wading in a 

 swamp en route, and, being desirous of obtaining a 

 specimen, I loaded my gun with a couple of Eley's 

 green long-range cartridges, and accompanied him to 

 the spot where he had marked the birds alight. I 

 had beaten about the place for some time without 

 seeing anything, and was about to give up the pursuit, 

 when, as I was turning round a low copse, a covey of 

 bustard (Otis tarda) suddenly got up from a small 

 undulating plain close to a watercourse, and I had 

 the good fortune to bring down a couple of them, 

 right and left, before they could get fairly upon the 

 wing. One, a hen, fell dead, the shot having taken 

 effect in the back part of the head and neck, but the 

 second, a fine old cock, was only winged, and ran at 

 an immense pace. Luckily " El Moro," my pointer, 

 attracted by "the report of my gun, came up and 



