Vol, II J, No. 1 J Notes q?z the Lagar Falcm, 4^ 



cially those opposite the passes, for Peregi'ine- catching on the 

 hanks of the rivei-s : each Idmkl has, of conrse, at least one harctk, 

 probably a layar, which is prepared as follows: — 



Three or even four of the flight-feathers of each wing are 

 tied together to impede the flight, the ends of the strings that 

 hind the feathei's being knotted with some of the small feathers 

 under the wings to prevent the strings slipping down and coming; 

 off over the ends of the feathers. To close the beak, a piece of 

 string is donbled and knotted twice in the middle, the two knots 

 being about a finger'' s breadtli apart. The small loop between 

 the two knots is passed over the beak, the doubled end of the 

 string lying on the ci'own of the hawk' s head. A third knot is 

 made under tlie chin, and the loose ends, one on each side of the 

 neck, are brought up and tied to the doubled end on the crown. 

 To render the feet powerless, the hind claw of each foot is bound' 

 back to the shank, and the legs are then hobbled together witli 

 stout string. To the centre of the hobble and on the top of the 

 feet is bound what is in Panjabi called a Jclntddu^ that is a 

 stuffed ball garnished with feathers to simulate a small bird, 

 and furnished with nooses. The kJuiddu is two or three inches in 

 diameter and weighs about two ounces ; it is usually made of the 

 coarse native cloth called in Panjabi Jchadar and is stuffed either 

 with soft hair or better with feathers : if stuffed with the latter, it 

 should be lined with cotton- wool to prevent the egress of the f eather& 

 through the coarse cloth. In the ball are long, coarse stitches of 

 twine, and to these stitches are firmly fastened horse-haii* nooses 

 made of three or four horsehairs knotted and twisted togethei- 

 when wet. Small pieces of the skin and feathers t f a small bird 

 are pushed in under the stitches so as to conceal the ball, ?md 

 many borukts add a small piece of scarlet cloth to represent blood. 

 Through the underside of the ball a piece of string is stitched, 

 and by its means the hJinddu is tied fii-mly to the centre of the 

 hobble : it must be so tied that, when the harak settles, the nooses 

 project outwards and upwards, so that a stooping hawk gets its 

 feet entangled. Before use, the baraJci fills his mouth with water, 

 and then blows it out in a forcible spray, so as to well wet the 

 khuddu. The nooses are then opened and an^anged and the feathers 

 pulled into place, and the whole put in the sun to dry. When dry 

 the khuddu is again examined, and, if necessary, re-ari-anged. 

 Finally the thread with which the eyes are seeled is loosened, so ■ 

 that about a third to a half of the eyes is opened.* 



The hawk, thus prepared, is thrown into the air. At the 

 first flight it will fly perhaps a hundred yards ; after that perhaps 

 three hundred, flying not more than fifteen feet from the graund. 

 After casting it off, the hawk-catcher squats and watches. If 

 there is a hawk anywhere in the vicinity, it will at least come 

 up and have a look : it may make a snatch at the supposed quariy 



1 If the buraJc has been caught and a«<ed for some days, it is kept on 

 its perch with its eyes ' unsealed/ the seeling threads being drawn together 

 when it is taken up to be flown. 



