THE JHEELS IN FAREEDPOOR. 323 



being then mastered by the set of the current from the 

 " jheel," we poled slowly up a mile or two more before reach- 

 ing our shooting water. During our progress many flights 

 of ducks and teal passed overhead eastward, all too high for 

 even my duck -gun ; but numerous water birds such as whim- 

 brel, god wits, ibis, goose-teal, red-shanks, sandpipers, plover, 

 snipe, and others rose on both sides, offering tempting shots, 

 particularly the last named, fine fat birds, which flushed 

 within twenty yards out of the rice-fields bordering the 

 creek, settled again within as many more. To C., an old hand, 

 this was tantalising no doubt, whereas to E., a " new chum," 

 it looked like throwing away the precious gifts of Provi- 

 dence ; nevertheless we were bound to refrain from firing at 

 such game, if we desired to make a good bag of the special 

 objects of our pursuit. 



After four miles had been covered, we entered the great 

 lagoon itself, still poling along a clear water-way, bordered 

 by inundated fields of rice and grasses, in which the blue- 

 winged teal fed in great numbers, and of them we secured six 

 or eight couple in a few shots before commencing the real 

 work of the day. The lake now spread out right and left as 

 far as we could see, and a low line of scraggy trees distant 

 four or five miles, marked the eastern shore. Wherever there 

 was open water it was covered with gadwals, pochards, and 

 teal, while the water cabbages and lilies concealed as many 

 more, besides pintails, whistling teal, coots, and water-hens 

 innumerable. 



C. and E. were armed with ordinary 12-bore double 

 guns, but I had in addition that day a single-barrelled duck- 

 gun of 8 -bore, which requires to be known thoroughly to be 

 appreciated. Of a comic turn of character, and of a somewhat 

 ill-regulated mind, this weapon will sometimes refuse to bring 

 down the nearest birds of a great flock, but will drop those 

 beyond a hundred and twenty or thirty yards off. With the 

 necessary elevation, it will kill with loose shot at over a 

 hundred yards, and with wire cartridges twenty yards 

 farther. 



Y2 



