OF THE BIRDS OF AFRICA. 



163 



of fragments of large fishes, and the bones and remains of small ante- 

 lopes, strewed on the ground, near the rotten trunk of an old tree. I 

 immediately concluded that this must be the place where two of these 

 eagles had established their fishery, or at least their ordinary haunt, 

 and it was not long before I saw them soaring round in the air, at a 

 great height. Without loss of time I concealed myself in a thick 

 bush ; but this stratagem was not executed with sufficient alertness to 

 deceive the piercing eyes of the eagles. They doubtless observed me, 

 for they did not descend. Next day, and for several days successively, 

 1 returned to my station ; at break of day, I posted myself in the 

 thicket, but all my vigilance was ineffectual. This business was very 

 laborious, because to go and return I was obliged to pass the river twice; 

 and at these times it was necessary to wait for the ebbing of the tide. 



" Tired out at last, as I wasted my time without being able to succeed, 

 I took two Hottentots with me, and crossing the river in the middle 

 of the night, conducted them to a spot near the trunk of an old 

 tree, where I made them dig a hole three feet wide and four deep. 

 When it was made, I placed myself in it j and having ordered them 

 to cover the hole over my head with a few sticks, a piece of a 

 mat, and some earth, I reserved only a small opening, sufficiently 

 large for me to put my fowling piece through it, and to see the old 

 trunk. I then desired my people to return to the camp. Day ap- 

 proached, but the cruel birds did not make their appearance. The 

 earth seeming to be newly thrown up, had no doubt rendered them 

 suspicious ; and this was a circumstance of which I had not before 

 thought. At the close of the night, I came forth from my hole, and 

 went to pass a few hours at my camp, after which I went and interred 

 myself as before. I continued this expedient for two days successively, 

 with much patience ; and during that interval, the sun had dried the 

 earth, and made it all of one colour. About the middle of the third 

 day of my anxious watch, I observed the female soaring above the 

 tree, upon which she soon alighted, with a very large fish in her claws. 

 I instantly discharged my piece, and had the pleasure of seeing her 

 flap her wings and fall ; but before I could disengage myself from my 

 mat, and the earth which covered me, she so far recovered her strength 

 as to fly a little ; and, brushing the surface of the water, reached the 

 other side, where she expired. 



" The joy that I felt on finding myself in possession of this bird was 

 so great, that, without observing that the tide was up, I threw myself 

 into the water with my fowling-piece on my shoulder, and I was not 



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