SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. 93 
Coots, as they rose, sounded like distant thunder. Alone 
by himself, a stately Pelican rode at anchor like a monarch 
of the waters; and the shrill cry of Gulls and Terns was 
heard as they passed us in the air. 
The fishermen had an order to procure four Swans for 
the Viceroy, and one man had been on this special quest 
five days. Hasselquist (1751) mentions Swans on the coast 
at Damietta, and Mr. Macgregor says he saw some on Men- 
zaleh, (“Rob Roy on the Jordan,” p. 70,) but still it is some- 
way south for such noble denizens of more northern regions, 
and the Viceroy is quite right to get them when he can. 
But in this instance the fishermen evidently thought his 
wishes could not be complied with, in which case the 
bastinado awaited the delinquents. An order sometimes 
comes (so they told us) for a thousand Ducks to be sent 
alive to the capital. Thereupon they have to bestir them- 
selves, and the Sheik assigns about three hundred to each 
company of seven boats, with the alternative of twenty 
guineas’ fine if they are not forthcoming by a certain date. 
They had now ina week only got 113, the order having 
arrived since the commencement of the moon, which had 
been full on the 21st. As we approached cautiously to the 
boats, three in number, I could see that they were slowly 
driving the Ducks to where the nets were set. Great care 
is necessary, for if they go too fast or tack too slanting, the 
Ducks are up directly, and all their trouble will have been 
for nothing. The nets are not unlike what were in use 
among the ancient Egyptians (see Rossilini, fig. clap-net). 
The men have a rope to pull; they are concealed on an 
island, and when they see the Ducks are in the right place, 
they all unite their strength, tug at the rope, and entrap 
them before they have any time to swim further. A couple 
of forked sticks are seen standing out of the water, and 
when the Ducks are between them, this indicates that they 
are in the right place. The net may be about twenty-five 
