Ill 



PIGS IN ALBANIA 



1878 



rPHEY were lovely mornings, those on which we steamed 

 J- up the Butrinto River bound for the favourite haunts 

 of the Albanian wild boar, coverts and marshes said by our 

 Corfu beaters to be "more better" than any we had yet 

 visited. We made but slow progress against the strong 

 stream which rushed swiftly down the narrow river, the outlet 

 of the lake above, and the launch had a hard task to tow 

 the yacht's boat deeply laden with as many beaters and dogs 

 as could be got into it. Following the zigzag course of the 

 river as it ran through the low marshy country, the unwonted 

 noise of our hard-working engine disturbed many a duck 

 and water-fowl in their reedy retreat, and caused them to 

 seek safety in flight or in the further recesses of some weed- 

 covered swamp. Now we heard the "cheep," "cheep" of 

 a snipe, then a bunch of ducks flew quacking over our heads ; 

 we disturbed coots and cormorants at breakfast, and lovely 

 kingfishers anxiously watching for theirs from some branch 

 overhanging the river. A gigantic pelican tried to race us 

 on the water, but had soon to take to his wings and seek 

 refuge on the lake beyond. We passed a well-preserved old 

 Venetian fort, which in the great days of the great Republic 

 had safeguarded the entrance to the river, then the picturesque 

 ruins of another perched upon a solitary grey rock, commanding 

 at that time the approach to the lake. Beyond this inland 

 sea, the home of every variety of water-fowl which found 

 shelter and food within its reedy shores, lay the great chain 

 of the Albanian mountains, its snow-covered peaks rising far 



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