SPORT AND TRAVEL 139 



walked back to Homa in the teeth of the wind, accom- 

 panied by Dr Carpuzza, Mustapha, and another Turk 

 carrying the rope I had previously bought in order to 

 reach the nest of the golden eagle. 



Arrived at Homa, we with some difficulty got a 

 man, who said he knew where the eagles had their 

 nests, in caves high up on the cliffs above the village. 

 These caves we reached after a stiff climb, but with 

 comparative ease, as the wind would have made it 

 impossible to have attempted to pass over any really 

 dangerous ground. On our approach, several griffon 

 vultures flew out from the recesses of the large caves, 

 but though we found several of their nests, only one 

 contained an egg. After this, we visited other caves, 

 but found no more nests, nor did we see any sign of 

 the eagles, the hope of finding whose eggs had been 

 my principal inducement to brave the fury of the 

 storm. As a matter of fact, I don't believe there were 

 any eagles breeding above Homa, the Turks not being 

 able to discriminate between these birds and the more 

 numerous vultures. It was still early when we got 

 back to the farmhouse, so we went on the same evening 

 to the station of Sutledj on the Aidin railway. I may 

 mention that on crossing the plain to Homa in the 

 morning the wind sometimes blew with such force 

 that it actually brought us to a standstill, and whilst 

 these gusts lasted, one could lean against it like a wall. 



As I wished to revisit the Maimun Dagh before 

 returning to Smyrna, in order to take two black vul- 



