A Sportsman at Large 213 



I presented to them ; however, by devious devices which were 

 a revelation to the little " Gyppies," I managed to extract 

 half a dozen fishlets from their native element ; whereupon 

 the native nippers signified supreme surprise and delight. 

 In this fashion I managed to smooth the passing hours plea- 

 santly enough until it was time to join my disgruntled 

 relatives, in order to catch the early train to Cairo. 



A propos my indulgence in this mild form of angling, I 

 was subsequently told that Lake Timsa (crocodile) swarmed 

 with fish of various species ; some of them of colossal dimen- 

 sions, and that had I grasped the opportunity of chartering 

 a native boat and setting about the business seriously, with 

 less primitive tackle than the little fishermen were able to 

 provide, I might have enjoyed some really delectable sport. 



But Cairo was our objective, so I had to leave such an 

 adventure to the nebulous " some day " (which I believe is 

 a sort of relation to " one day "), an intention which, as it 

 happens, has never materialized. 



After a sumptuous repast at Shepheard's Hotel, we sat on the 

 historic veranda, and gazed with open-mouthed astonishment 

 and interest at the passing pageant of oriental life. It was 

 all new to us, and we were enthralled by the spectacle. But 

 many potent pens have from time to time busied themselves 

 in depicting the extraordinary variety of " local colour " 

 which endlessly passes along before the eyes of the observer ; 

 so that I need not trespass further on a description, which, 

 even when painted by the most imaginative scribe, fails 

 to convey any really satisfying impression of the riot of colour, 

 movement and variety which unfolds itself to the eye from 

 this point of vantage. 



It was not long before a gorgeously attired Dragoman, or 

 Shikari, approached me with lordly bearing. He made a deep 

 salaam. 



" 3a-sha want go shooting ? Blenty sport, berhaps 1 " 



" Perhaps not 1" This sotto voce from Ted. 



Our Arab friend had sharp ears. 



' You tink not I tink yes," he exclaimed scornfully. 

 Then turning to me whom he evidently recognized as being 

 in command : 



